Boston, New-England: Printed by Thomas & John Fleet, 1764-69. In three (of an eventual four) volumes (with: The History of the Province of Masachusets-Bay...,1767, and A Collection of Original Papers Relative to the History of the Colony of Masachusets-Bay, 1769). First editions. From the library Americana collector Amor L. Hollingsworth, and with his red morocco book-plate on front paste-down of each volume. 8vo. (iv), iv, 566; (iv), iv, 539; (ii), ii, 576 pp. Full 19th-century polished tan calf, red morocco spine labels, decorated in gilt, front and rear boards detached on first and third volumes; front board detached on second volume, rear board of same starting; spine of each volume dry and chipping; gilt dentelles; marbled endpapers; by Riviere & Son; signature of American Congregational minister, educator, and president of Yale, Thomas Clap, mounted on front blank of first volume; ownership inscription on title-page of first volume, dated 1857 ("John Heale Pilsbury / from E.J. Demoor"; scattered light spotting to text. Sabin 34069, 34075, 34082. Evans 9705, 10658, 11300; Howes H-853; Adams, The American Controversy, 64-11a, 67-7a; Reese, The Struggle for North America 65; ESTC W20456, W20464, W31190

First edition of Massachusetts colonial governor Thomas Hutchinson's history of Massachusetts, "a work of permanent value...indispensable in any American collection." (Sabin)

The first volume discusses the early years of the colony, from its first settlement in 1628, up to 1691, while the second volume covers the colony from its 1691 charter up to 1750. The third volume was published by Hutchinson as a supplemental volume to the first two, and is, according to Sabin, "a necessary adjunct." A fourth volume (not present) was published posthumously, in 1828, from Hutchinson's notes. "Besides being a colonial historian, Hutchinson was governor of Massachusetts from 1771 to 1773 and a staunch Loyalist. He left Boston for London in late 1773, after his actions were one of the precipitating causes of the Boston Tea Party, and remained in exile in England until his death in 1780." (Reese)