Letters on Agriculture from his Excellency George Washington President of the United States to Arthur Young by WASHINGTON, George; Edited by Franklin Knight - 1847

Washington, D. C.: Published by the Editor; Philadelphia: William S. Martien; New York: Baker & Scribner and William S. Martien, 1847. Spine faded, light wear to joints and corners. Folio. Half-title: "Farmers' Souvenir. Washington's Agricultural Correspondence." 198 pages, including facsimiles. Engraved frontispiece portrait, 4 plates and one map. SIGNED AMERICAN BINDING by D. W. Gihon, Philadelphia, dark brown straight-grained morocco, Greek-key border on both sides, large central escutcheon with title and motto "Virtus Sola Nobilitas" on both sides, in gilt on the front and blind on the back, smooth spine gilt ruled, with the binder's stamp in blind at top of each side and address at 98 Chestnut Street at bottom. A fine signed American binding, incorporating the design of the standard issue of the book in cloth. The Gihons were very active in the Philadelphia book trade during the 1830s to 50s. Washington's letters to Young and Sinclair letters were originally published separately in 1801 and 1800 and were insightful records of his life as an agriculturist and plantation owner, seeking to improve both his own lands and those of his country through this correspondence with two of the leading British agricultural theorists. Contains at the end a description of Washington's tomb, his Will, and an account of his character by George Canning. Sabin 101722. This binding is recorded in Willman Spawn and Thomas E. Kinsella's 'American Signed Bindings through 1876', no. 287. No copies in this binding are recorded at auction in at least 100 years.