[ B. F. Stevens of Vermont, London bookseller. ] Stevens' Historical Collections. Catalogue of the First Portion of the Extensive & Varied Collections of Rare Books and Manuscripts relating chiefly to the History and Literature of America [...]'.

vi + 229 + [1]pp., 8vo. Frontispiece facsimile letter from Benjamin Franklin. In original printed wraps. In blue cloth binding with title in gilt on front cover and spine. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in worn binding. Full title: 'Stevens' Historical Collections. Catalogue of the First Portion of the Extensive & Varied Collections of Rare Books and Manuscripts relating chiefly to the History and Literature of America Comprising the great Collections of Voyages & Travels of De Bry (inn Latin and German) Hulsius Thevenot Purchas and Hakluyt with early separate Voyages of the Dutch English and French Navigators; Early American History and Literature; Burns's Autograph Poems; black-letter and other early English and American Ballads; Chaucer's Works 1532; highly important Collections of Manuscripts relating to Sir Francis Drake, the colony of Georgia, New England & Virginia including 18 of the earliest Autograph Letters of Washington and Henry Stevens's Franklin Collection.' 1625 lots. A marvellous catalogue, compiled by Stevens himself, and preceded by a three-page 'Explanatory' by him, signed in type 'Henry Stevens of Vermont | 4, Trafalgar Square, London, | April 10, 1881.' Stevens explains that he has 'ventured on a somewhat new departure in describing the less known lots with brief collations, names of printers, and in not a few instances, with bibliographical and historical notes', his intention being 'to give a bibliographcal flavour to the whole, and if possible to lift the Catalogue out of the common run, hoping that it may be deemed hereafter of some bibliographical use to Librarians, and to Collectors of this class of Books and Manuscripts'. Uncommon: two copies on COPAC (National Library of Scotland and Senate House).