35

"first published appearance of the American flag"

Matthias C. Sprengel.

Allgemeines historisches Taschenbuch . . . enthaltend für 1784 die Geschichte der Revolution von Nord-America.

Leipzig and Berlin, Germany: Haude & Spener, [1784]
Folding hand-colored map, engraved additional title page reading "Historisch-genealogischer Calender oder Jahrbuch," 16 (of 17) additional engraved plates (3 of them hand-colored). [8], 182 pages. 12mo, original wrappers, worn and partly laminated, coming disbound; minor wear and moderate foxing, map with long closed tear with old cello tape stain and modern repair and ½-inch hole in northern Canada, lacking leaf F12 and plate 10; uncut; later German collector's inked stamp on front free endpaper.

  • Notes: This early German history of the Revolution is well-illustrated with engravings of Stamp Act protests, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Lexington, Bunker's Hill, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and more (but lacking a plate depicting the capture of Major André). At the rear are small portraits of Washington, Franklin and other leaders; two hand-colored plates of American soldiers in uniform; and a very early hand-colored depiction of the "Stars and Stripes" which depicts the stripes in red, blue and white.  

    Several issues appeared of this work; this one omits the 74-page section on European genealogy, and plate 13 is dated 1784 instead of 1783.

    Church 1207-2 (describes 3 issues, priority undetermined, with this matching "the Bancroft copy"); Howes S846 (describes 4 issues, priority undetermined, with this being the third listed); Reese, Revolutionary Hundred 77 ("the first published appearance of the American flag"); Sabin 89755 (calls this the second edition); Wolfenbüttel, The New World in the Treasures of an Old European Library 228-9 ("First depiction in color of the American flag. . . . The first summary account of the American Revolution to appear in Germany after the war").
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