American Revolution
1781 "REVOLUTION DE L'AMERIQUE" First Edition
1781 First Edition Book entitled "REVOLUTION DE L'AMERIQUE," by Abb Raynal, Printed by Chez Lockier Davis, Holborn, London, Fine.
This important 18th century treatise was a highly informative work which contains an historical essay on the American Revolution. This is one of a few editions issued the first year 1781, some with, most without the frontispiece. The text is printed in French. Volume numbers 171-pages with separate 16-pages of preliminaries; and measures approximately 8.75" tall x 5.5" wide x .75" thick. This rare book remains in quite good overall condition with typical issues of age. Raynal urged the Americans to found their liberty on constitutionalism, union, freedom of conscience, and the education of the people. The cover is well worn, spine tips chipped, spine cocked, page edges uncut, scattered light foxing, occasional minor damp staining, page edges untrimmed, as issued, and is generally clean internally. All in all, this desirable treatise remains very presentable.
Abb Guillaume Thomas Franois Raynal (1713-1796) was a noted French historian and philosopher. Raynal was a priest, but he was dismissed from his parish in Paris. He then turned to writing and sought the society and collaboration of the philosophes. Two historical works, one on the Netherlands (1747) and one on the English Parliament (1748), firmly established his reputation. Arguably his most important work, completed with the assistance of Denis Diderot, was a massive history of the European colonies in the Indies and Americas (1770). It was condemned by the Parlement of Paris (1781) for impiety and its dangerous ideas on the right of the people to revolt and to give or withhold consent to taxation. Nevertheless, the History was extremely popular, passing through many subsequent editions; the radical tone becoming more pronounced in later issues. Placed on the Index of the Roman Catholic Church in 1774, Raynal's book was burned and he was forced into exile in 1781. He was allowed to return to France, but not Paris, in 1784; his Parisian banishment was rescinded in 1790. Elected to the States General in 1789, he refused to serve and later advocated a constitutional monarchy.
Our Auction Contents:
Black History & Slavery: (Lots 1 - 63)
Abraham Lincoln Related: (Lots 64 - 74)
Historic Autographs: (Lots 75 - 235)
Colonial America: (Lots 236 - 261)
Revolutionary War: (Lots 262 - 304)
George Washington Related: (Lots 305 - 306)
Early American Guns & Weapons: (Lots 307 - 318)