"By a Young Lady of the State of New-York," 1798

The Fortunate Discovery: or, the History of Henry Villars. By a Young Lady of the State of New-York. New-York: Printed by R. Wilson, for Samuel Campbell, 1798.

The rare first edition, in a contemporary binding, of this anonymous wartime romance set in Manhattan and the Hudson Valley during the final months of the Revolution. The author, identified only as a "Young Lady of the State of New-York," has never been identified. The novel, which has a Loyalist slant, tells the story of a British officer, Henry Hargrave, who realizes he is the long-lost son of Mr & Mrs Villars. The story ends with him receiving his inheritance and, along with his soldier friend, getting married: the two sets of newlyweds depart New York together after the war and return to England. Uncommon at auction: according to RBH, only two other copies have appeared in the past 100 years. Evans 33744; Sabin 106142; Wright 975.

12mo (167 x 95). (Lacking front endpaper, minor staining at a few margins.) Contemporary sheep, red spine label (some rubbing). Provenance: deleted signature to front endpaper.