Lieut. James Moody’s Narrative of His Sufferings in the Cause of Government, Since the Year 1776.

London: Printed in the year 1782. 8vo, later three quarters red morocco, marbled paper over boards, marbled endpapers. 59 pp. Early ownership inscription at head of title page: “Wm H Bell No 8.” Red morocco ownership label reading “Littell” in upper left corner of front paste-down. In a half red morocco tray case by the Lakeside Press. Laid into the case are three items relating to the narrative: a Peter Decker invoice issued to AAS (for unrelated items) with notes on the verso, a clipped bookseller’s description, and a note, possibly by previous owner C. G. Littell, on the verso of a half sheet of letterhead for “The Westerners New York Posse” (Littell collected western Americana).

The Thomas W. Streeter copy of this rare and important loyalist narrative, with various, typically interesting notes in Streeter’s hand on an endpaper.

“Moody, a prosperous New Jersey farmer was at first a Loyalist, and from March or April, 1777, an active member of the British forces. Until 1780 he was in Cortland Skinner’s New Jersey Tory Brigade. He had many exciting experiences as a ranger, scout, and spy, and tells them well. One was an attempt to blow up a powder magazine not far from Morristown, N. J. The Narrative is well known as one of the few firsthand accounts of Loyalist military activity. It certainly makes good reading and has every indication of being authentic, and was so attested by Gen. Skinner.”—Streeter.

In his pencil notes, which fill up most of one side of a front endpaper, Streeter records that he acquired this copy through Michael J. Walsh of Goodspeed’s, who purchased it in the Littell sale in February of 1945. C. G. Littell (1882-1958) was president of the R. R. Donnelley Printing Company, whose Lakeside Classics series of American historical narratives began during Littell’s tenure. The tray case was made for Littell by the Lakeside Press binders.

PROVENANCE: Goodspeed’s catalog 295, item #184, 1938; C. G. Littell, item #747 in his sale at Parke-Bernet Galleries, February 5 and 6, 1945; Thomas W. Streeter, item #799 in his sale at Parke-Bernet, specifically identified as the Littell copy and London, 1782, but erroneously identified as the second edition (one of Streeter’s notes indicates that he bought the second edition of 1783 from Maggs in November of 1944; it was not offered in his sale).

CONDITION: Very good, ffep professionally re-attached.

REFERENCES: Streeter II, 799; Sabin 50309 “extremely rare”; Adams, American Controversy, 82-59a; Howes M751; ESTC, N12421.