Donkin, Major Robert | Infecting the rebels with Smallpox

Donkin, Major Robert

Military Collections and Remarks. New York: Hugh Gaine, 1777 

8vo (200 x 118 mm). Engraved frontispiece, decorative head- and tailpieces, 19-page list of military or naval subscribers, footnote on p.190 excised as usual; marginal repairs to frontis, offsetting of frontis onto title, foxing, scattered browning, long closed tear to L1. Contemporary speckled calf, gilt-lettered label to spine, edges speckled red; rubbed with some loss, joints repaired. In custom slipcase and folding chemise.   

First edition of "One of the rarest Revolutionary books and written in the bitterest spirit" (Lathrop Harper). 

"Penned by a British Army officer serving in America, who states in the preface

that subscriptions to the book will go to the widows and orphans of 'the valiant

soldiers … butchered when peaceably marching to and from Concord the 19th April

1775, by the rebels.' It contains many notes and anecdotes regarding the American

Revolution. The portion of page 190 that is usually excised or mutilated (as in this

copy) proposes that arrows dipped in smallpox be shot at the American rebels" (Revolutionary). 

PROVENANCE

Thomas Hopkins (armorial bookplate to front pastedown) 

REFERENCE

Evans 15289; ESTC W20756; Gephart 7554; Revolutionary Hundred 50; Sabin 20598