Oldmixon, John

The British Empire in America, Containing the History of the Discovery, Settlement, Progress and present State of all the British Colonies, on the Continent Islands of America. London: Printed for John Nicholson, Benjamin Tooke, Richard Parker, and Ralph Smith, 1708



2 volumes, 8vo (7 3/4 x 5 in.; 197 x 127 mm). 8 folding maps by Herman Moll; short marginal tear in bottom margin of 1:Aa1, short tear in bottom margin of 2:P4 touching 2 lines of text, minor tear to map of Virginia and Maryland, map of Jamaica slightly browned, light, occasional text browning, withal a very fresh copy.  Contemporary Cambridge-style calf binding, spines richly gilt in 6 compartments with one reserved for brown morocco lettering piece, edges and endpapers plain; joints dry and rubbed, upper boards of both volumes detached. Quarter blue slipcase and chemise.

Hugh Campbell, Third Earl of Loudoun (bookplate) — Orren Otis Fisher (bookplate)

Howes O61; Sabin 57157

2 volumes, 8vo (7 3/4 x 5 in.; 197 x 127 mm). 8 folding maps by Herman Moll; short marginal tear in bottom marginof 1:Aa1, short teart in bottom margin of 2:P4 touching 2 lines of text, minor tear to map of Virginia and Maryland, map of Jamaica slightly browned, light, occasional text browning, withal a very fresh copy. Contemporary Cambridge style calf binding, spines richly gilt in 6 compartments with one reserved for brown morocco lettering pieces, edges and endpapers plain; joints dry and rubbed, upper boards of both volumes detached. Quarter blue slipcase and chemise.
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First edition and first historical work by Oldmixon, historian and pamphleteer. Oldmixon wrote his history chiefly to show the advantage of American plantations to England. The work gives a separate account of the history and economy of each British colony, and includes Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New England, and all the colonies to Georgia, Hudson's Bay, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the West Indies. He credits Cotton Mather as his principal source for his history of New England, and Oldmixon's history of Pennsylvania was evidently derived from his personal communications with William Penn (Sabin).

The book was first owned by Hugh Campbell, third Earl of Loudoun (d. 1731). The Earl of  Loudoun served as the first Secretary of State for Scotland between 23 June 1707 and May 1708. The Secretary of State for Scotland is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland, at the head of the Scottish Office.  The post was first created in 1707 after the union of the English and Scottish parliaments.