NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA

Boston, 1829. [4],280pp. 12mo. Half calf and marbled boards in antique style, spine gilt, leather label. Light tanning and scattered foxing. Very good. An uncommon later Boston edition of Jefferson's famous work. This is the only book-length work by Jefferson to be published in his lifetime, and has been called "one of America's first permanent literary and intellectual landmarks." The book was largely written in 1781, and was first published in Paris, in French, in 1785. Written in the form of answers to questions about Virginia, it supplies a description of the geography, and an abundance of supporting material and unusual information. As J.M. Edelstein notes, "Jefferson wrote about things which interested him deeply and about which he knew a great deal; the NOTES, therefore, throws a fascinating light on his tastes, curiosities, and political and social opinions." The story of the creation of this book and its publishing history is an interesting one. It is told fully by Millicent Sowerby in her catalogue of Jefferson's library, where it occupies some thirty pages in small type. the late editions, especially those issued after Jefferson's death, are among the rarest editions of the work. HOWES J78. SABIN 35907. SOWERBY, JEFFERSON'S LIBRARY 4167 (ref). REESE, FEDERAL HUNDRED 6 (ref). Coolie Verner, A FURTHER CHECKLIST OF THE SEPARATE EDITIONS OF JEFFERSON'S NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, Charlottesville, 1950, p.22.