SMITH, William (1728-1793). The History of the Province of New-York, from the First Discovery to the Year M.DCC.XXXII. To which is annexed, A Description of the Country, with a short Account of the Inhabitants, their Trade, Religious and Political State, and the Constitution of the Courts of Justice of that Colony. London: printed for William Wilcox, 1757.

First edition of the first history of New York; a cornerstone of colonial history. William Smith, a Loyalist who graduated from Yale in 1745, became the justice of the province of New York but left the country after the Revolution for Lower Canada where he became chief justice. Smith's work was based "chiefly on the Provincial Laws, the Minutes of the Council, the Journals of the General Assembly and other government records. He also acknowledges his indebtedness to Colden's history of the Five Indian nations, and to Charlevoix. The history proper covers pp. 1-180, while a description of the province, geographical, political, etc., forms pp. 181-255. Church 1023; Howes S-703; Sabin 84566.

Quarto (261 x 198 mm). Copper engraved folding plate "The South View of Oswego on Lake Ontario" (some wear and repairs at edges, creasing). Contemporary tree calf (rebacked, corners repaired). Provenance: Jean R. Perrette (bookplate; his sale, Christie's New York, 5 April 2016, lot 370) – Ernest E. Keet (bookplate).