American Families: Genealogical and Biographical From the Most Authentic Sources, Including Much Valuable Material Drawn From Hitherto Unpublished Family Records with Accurate Reproduction and Description of Ancient Emblazonry Compiled by Masters of Genealogic and Heraldic Science.

Item Number: 119608

New York: The American Historical Society, Inc, .

Limited De Luxe edition of this genealogical record of the prominent American families. Quarto, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, triple gilt ruling to the panels, inner dentelles, watered silk doublures and endleaves, all edges gilt, hand-painted title page, engraved headpieces, tailpieces, and initials, profusely illustrated with tissue-guarded engraved portraits and hand-painted heraldic coats of arms. One of 50 numbered and registered copies, this is number 20. In near fine condition. The volume includes biographies and genealogies of American families Wilbur, Abbott, Brodhead, Linderman, Shimer, Packer, Curtis, Palmer, Conant, Long, Buckner, Taliaferro, Barker, Ridgely, Shumway, Beach, Alden, Mullins, Gould, Nichols, Case, Smith, Spooner, Chapin, Pettibone, Peabody, Clarke, Bouton, Cilley, Raymond, Benedict, Stevenson, de Quincey, Berry, Dwight, Morse, Sherrard, Lodge, Hoyt, Griggs, Bartholomew, Barnett, Shaffer, Nash, Warner, Pennell, Whiton, Parker, King, Lawrence, Blake, Clapp, Moulton, Stoughton, Hull, Beckwith, Hurd, Gilman, Graves, Wyeth, Ward, Renick, Borton, Savage, Tisdale, Barnum, Burt, Graham, Drummond, Ruthven, Carnegie, Morris, Walker, Wolcott, Williams, Weare, Proctor, Dean, Cogswell, Warner, Low, Perkins, Merrill, Henderson, Mather, Matz, Thorne, Frost, Francis, Merritt, Rambo, Broadhurst, Currie, Ross, Williams, Pott, Walker, Jerman, Price, Bear, Long, Meier, Kaiser, Bonner, Woestman, Meyer, Hixon, Brown, Bond, Scudder, Davidson and Bliss. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable.

Historically, in Western societies the focus of genealogy was on the kinship and descent of rulers and nobles, often arguing or demonstrating the legitimacy of claims to wealth and power. The term often overlapped with heraldry, in which the ancestry of royalty was reflected in their coats of arms. In modern times, genealogy became more widespread, with commoners as well as nobility researching and maintaining their family trees. Genealogical research in the United States was first systematized in the early 19th century, especially by John Farmer (1789–1838). Before Farmer's efforts, tracing one's genealogy was seen as an attempt by the American colonists to secure a measure of social standing, an aim that was counter to the new republic's egalitarian, future-oriented ideals (as outlined in the Constitution).