[BEVERLEY, Robert (c.1673-c.1722)]. The History and Present State of Virginia, in four parts ... By a native and inhabitant of the place. London: Printed for R. Parker, 1705. 4 parts in one volume, octavo. (7 1/2 x 4 5/8 inches). Engraved frontispiece, 11 of 14 engraved plates, all by Gribelin, 1 folding letterpress table. (Inner margin dampstainied, generally light but heavier to the last four leaves of the first part and the first four leaves of the second part). Lacks three plates and two leaves of text.

An important history of Virginia: After John Smith, the first account of this colony, the first one penned by a native and the best contemporary record of its aboriginal tribes and of the life of its early settlers (Howes).

Beverly's history is the earliest written by a Virginian and is one of the most reliable and informative accounts of the early period. Beverly covers all aspects of life in Virginia, including produce both natural and cultivated, early plantations and history up to the time of writing. The finely executed plates are based on the engravings found in the first part of Theodore De Bry's Grand Voyages, i.e. Hariot's important work on Virginia with images based on original drawings by John White.

A valuable first hand account of conditions, written by a self consciously American observer of nature, Indians, political and social life (Vail).

Table letter press with loss

Plates present:
Tab 1, Book 2, p. 34
Tab 2, Book 3, p. 3
Tab 4, Book 3, p. 6
Tab 6 with tear.
Tab 7, Book 3, p.9
Tab 9, Book 3, p. 14
Tab 10, Book 3, p. 17
Tab 11, Book 3, p. 31
Tab 12, Book 3, p. 48
Tab 13, Book 3, p. 54
Tab 14, Book 3, p/ 60

Lacks
Tab 3, 5, 8
Lacks frontispiece, title page, table and 15 pps of text at the beginning of the book. Text page 99/100 with small paper loss affecting a few words. .

Arents 456; Church 821; European Americana, 705/21; Field 122 (later edition); Howes B410; Pilling, Algonquian, p. 43; Sabin 5112; Streeter sale 2:1098; Vail 297.