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The HISTORY of the British Plantations in AMERICA. WITH A Chronological ACCOUNT of the most remarkable Things, which happen'd to the first ADVENTURERS in their several Discoveries of that New World. Part I. Containing the History of Virginia; with Remarks on the Trade and Commerce of that Colony

Date1738

Maker William Keith

Publisher Samuel Richardson 1689-1761

Retailed by Andrew Millar (1707-1768)

Retailed by John Nourse died 1780

OriginEngland, London

MediumLetterpress on laid paper; black and white line engraving; leather; gold

DimensionsOH: 13" x OW: 8 1/2" x OD: 1 1/4"

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Barry, III, Mr. and Mrs. Macon F. Brock, Mr. and Mrs. David R. Goode, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad M. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Johnson, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Moorman, IV, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Roberts.

Object number2017-212

DescriptionComplete title page: The/ HISTORY/ of the/ British Plantations in AMERICA./ WITH/ A Chronological ACCOUNT of the most remarkable/ Things, which happen'd to the first ADVENTURERS/ in their several Discoveries of that New World./ Part I./ Containing the History of Virginia; with Remarks on the/ Trade and Commerce of that Colony/ By Sir WILLIAM KEITH, Bart./ LONDON: Printed at the Expence[sic] of the SOCIETY for the ENCOURAGEMENT/ of LEARNING, by S. RICHARDSON; and Sold by A. MILLAR at/ Buchanan's Head int he Strand, J. NOURSE at Temple-Bar, and J. GRAY/ in the Poultry, Booksellers to the SOCIETY. M.DCCXXXVIII/ [Price Four Shillings in Sheets.]Label TextThis 1738 "History of the British Plantations in America" draws both from earlier accounts and author Sir William Keith's firsthand experience as a colonial official. In 1714, Keith was appointed surveyor-general of customs for the southern colonies of North America, going on to serve as governor of Virginia from 1717 to 1722. The volume, which focuses on Virginia, traces the history of the colony from the first settlement at Jamestown and provides information about the colony's economy and trade. Though the volume has "Part 1" on the title page and "End of Vol. 1" at the end, it stands alone. Keith intended it to be part of a series on the history of the colonies, but the series was never completed.

Contains the following:
"A New and Correct/ Map of/ AMERICA/ Laid down According to the/ Accurate Improvements of/ Senex, Moll, and other Modern/ Geographers./ Humbly Inscribed to his/ Royal Highness/ Frederick/ Prince of/ Wales/ 1738"
Inset: "THE NORTH POLE"
Inset: "A View of a Stage, also ye manner of Fishing for, Curing, & Drying at NEW FOUND LAND"

"A New MAP of/ VIRGINIA/ humbly Dedicated to ye Right Hon:ble/Thomas Lord Fairfax/ 1738."ProvenanceBefore 1992, Jonathan Potter, Ltd. Antique Maps (London, England); 1992, purchased by William C. Wooldridge (Norfolk, VA); 2009, purchased by the Virginia Cartographical Society (Norfolk, VA); 2017-present, given to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).