The London Magazine, Vol. XLVII; Jan.-Dec. 1778 with Revolutionary War Contents

A bound edition of The London Magazine, or Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer, Vol. 47 (London: R. Baldwin. 1778), which includes all twelve monthly issues of January-December, 1778. Octavo. 609pp plus index. General wear to leather spine including some cracking, with rubbing to cover and tearing at corners, not affecting binding. Pages intact with varying degrees of toning and soiling throughout.

The magazine covers a variety of topics, including literature, economics, foreign affairs, politics, mathematics, and history; regionally covering the areas of Britain and its territories, continental Europe, and America. Features detailed engravings at the beginning of each issue, along with several fold out maps and illustrations, totaling twenty four in all. Published in the midst of the American Revolution, The London Magazine's writers often refer to the conflict and seek to provide accurate information to their readers through maps and other means of description, from the unique perspective of the British. Of note, the April issue offers a detailed account of the topography of New York, while the later November issue offers an article on the Colony of Rhode Island, beginning, "In order to throw all possible light on the operations of the British arms in America, we continue our plan of giving maps of the places where any military transaction happens…" (512).

The London Magazine, or the Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer was first founded in 1732 as a competing publication to the Tory-supported Gentleman's Magazine, running until 1785. It was later revived in 1820 under a new editor, which sought to publish many of England's famous Romantics, including Shelley, Wordsworth, and Keats. By the year this volume was published in 1778, the Americans had secured a Treaty of Alliance with France, causing tensions to rise for the British, both internally in Parliament and externally against the revolutionaries. Indeed, in the eyes of many British politicians, France's involvement subsequently elevated the American Revolution into a world war, particularly after the Spanish and Dutch later allied with France in 1779 and 1780, respectively.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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