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[BELKNAP, JEREMY.]. The Foresters, an American Tale: Being a Sequel to the History of John Bull the Clothier. In a Series of Letters to a Friend. Boston: I. Thomas & E. T. Andrews, 1792.  1st sep. ed. 12mo. 216 pp. Frontis. Cont. tree calf, leather label. Bookplate removed from front pastedown. Blank corner of frontis. torn away, with short marginal tears. Some foxing & staining, a number of leaves torn, without loss; a good copy of the text, only, but complete, and in an attractive period binding. Rare. $450.00

 

BAL 929, state A of the frontis. and p. 77. Wright I, 289. Wegelin, Early American Fiction, p. 11. See Quinn, American Fiction, pp. 4-5. "It gives an allegorical account of the settlement of America, the Revolution, the adoption of the Constitution, and the French Revolution. Belknap's style is lively, and the book has some value...as a representative of public opinion"-Quinn. Generally considered the first American historical novel.