Neal, Daniel (1678-1743).

The History of New-England Containing an Impartial Account of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Affairs of the County

      London: J. Clark, R. Ford, and R. Cruttenden, 1720. 2 volumes. 8vo., (7 6/8 x 4 6/8 inches). Title-pages printed in red and black. Folding engraved map of New England with insets of Boston Harbour and "Part of the Northern Hemisphaere showing New Britain and New France, engraved head-and tail-pieces. Contemporary calf gilt (joints split, worn with minor loss at the head and foot of the spine). Provenance: With the near contemporary ownership inscription of D. Bosanquet, dated July 1727 at the foot of each title-page. First edition, and the author's first work. "This was a well-documented history which interpolated many extracts from Neal's sources into his smoothly written narrative. In his preface Neal praised New England's religious freedom and pointedly contrasted it with what he perceived to be England's continuing intolerance. Neal's history was well received in the American colonies and won him an honorary MA degree from Harvard College in 1721" (Laird Okie for DNB).