Washington's Epistles with Tory forgeries, 1896

Heading: (Presidents)
Author: Washington, George
Title: Epistles Domestic, Confidential and Official from General Washington, written about the commencement of the American contest, when he entered on the command of the Army of the United States...
Place Published: New York
Publisher:Printed for G. Robinson, et al.
Date Published: 1796
Description:

xiv, 303 pp. (8vo) 20x12.5 cm (8x5"), early 19th century half morocco & marbled boards, spine titled in gilt, raised bands. First Edition.

Important collection of Washington's correspondence with British and American dignitaries, including British admirals Arbuthnot and Digby, Henry Clinton, Cornwallis, Carleton, Lafayette, Alexander Hamilton, and others, written from 1779 to 1783, covering the latter part of his tenure as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. This copy lacks the frontispiece portrait and the blank leaf following p.xiv (as is often the case).

The collection, published as a supplement to Washington's Original Letters to the Congress (1795), whiich covered the years 1775 to 1778, is notable for contaning seven "spurious letters" (pp. [4]-66), Tory forgeries that had previously circulated in which Washington appears to express doubts about the Revolution and which he disavowed in a communication to Secretary of State Timothy Pickering, asserting "that he had never seen or heard of them until they appeared in print." This copy without the printed leaf with Washington's statement regarding the forgeries, which was printed later and inserted into unsold copies. Evans 30392; Howes W133; Sabin 101742.
Condition Report: A bit of rubbing to boards; some fairly light foxing within, two old ownership inscriptions to front free endpaper; very good or better condition.