Beschreibung:

God's Protecting Providence, Man's Surest Help and Defence ... Evidenced in the Remarkable Deliverance of Robert Barrow with divers other Persons, from the Devouring Waves of the Sea; amongst which they suffered Shipwrack from the cruel Devouring Jaws of the Inhumane Canibals of Florida. London: T. Sowle, 1700. [10], 89, [1 blank], [8 ad] pp. 8vo (168 x 100 mm). Full speckled calf gilt by Pratt, red morocco spine labels, gilt dentelles, a.e.g. B3-B6 with inconspicuous strengthening. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION of this very popular early captivity narrative, first printed in Philadelphia in 1699. The rarity "is explained by the gripping readability of the remarkable narrative which must have resulted in copies being literally read to pieces. The almost incredible adventures of these men, women and children in the hands of their Indian captors and their hardships and hunger endured on a march from South-east Fla. to St. Augustine and along the wild coast of Ga. and Carolina to Charleston can not be equaled either in fiction or history" (Wright Howes cat 50). Their journey was about 300 miles long, all by canoe and by foot. The bookseller's list is also of American interest, being essentially a reading list for the 17th century Quaker. Clark I:73; Howes D317; Vail 285; Wing D-1390A. Provenance: appears to be the Sir R. Leicester Harmsworth copy, sold at Sotheby's in 1949; sold by Henry Stevens in 1950 to Frank T. Siebert. Acquisition: Siebert sale, Sotheby's New York, May 21, 1999, lot 430, $29,900.