THE NATURAL AND ABORIGINAL HISTORY OF TENNESSEE, UP TO THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS THEREIN BY THE WHITE PEOPLE, IN THE YEAR 1768.
Haywood, John:
Nashville: Printed by George Wilson, 1823. viii,390,liv pp. Half title. 19th-century three-quarter calf over marbled boards, gilt label. Covers and spine worn, marbled paper on front board partially removed. Ownership inscriptions dated 1922 on front free endpaper and titlepage, additional ownership inscription (partially erased) on half title. Minor foxing. A very good copy. In a half morocco box. First edition of Haywood's substantial account of the natural and aboriginal history of Tennessee. A judge in Davidson County and one of the pioneering historians of Tennessee, Haywood wrote the companion volume entitled THE CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT UP TO THE YEAR 1796, also published in 1823. In addition to providing much information about the Indians of Tennessee, the author attempts to demonstrate the relationship of Native Americans to the Caucasian race. He also includes details regarding Mexicans, Hindus, Persians, Peruvians, Cherokees, Chickasaws, and Natchez Indians. "In this book, now exceedingly rare and highly prized, the author has brought together a very large number of curious facts, relating to the origin and character of the natives of his State, prior to the settlement by the whites. He does not favor the hypothesis of great antiquity in the Indian nations of America, and believes in their common origin with the Caucasian race. He describes with great minuteness and care the relics of the race which once inhabited the territory, its utensils, skeletons, crania, and fortifications, most of which he appears to have personally inspected" - Field. This is one of the most difficult Tennessee books to acquire. The only copy to appear at auction in recent years was the Siebert copy (bought by this firm for a private collector in 1999 for $13,800). SABIN 31085. FIELD 670. HOWES H359, "b." CHURCH 1325. STREETER 1659. SIEBERT SALE 371. ALLEN IMPRINTS 562. AII (TENNESSEE) 121. STREETER SALE 1659.
(Item ID: WRCAM36167) $20,000.00