The History of Printing in America, with a Biography of Printers, and an Account of Newspapers

Albany, NY: Joel Munsell, Printer, 1874. Hardcover. Complete 2-volume set. Small 4to. Brown cloth with gilt spine lettering. lxxxvii, 423pp; viii, 666pp, 47pp. Tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustration. Near fine. Exceptionally tight and bright second edition of this 1810 classic -- published as Volume V and VI in the "Archaeologia Americana" series in the "Transactions and Collection of the American Antiquarian Society" -- founded in 1812 by colonial printer, publisher and author Thomas (1749-1831), the society's first president. This superlative copy bears a choice inscription and signature on Volume I's front flyleaf: "14 vii 61 / For Frank S. Hanlin, Jr., / in celebration of his first / visit to the American / Antiquarian Society. / Marcus A. McCorison." McCorison (1926-2013) was the famed long-time "Grand Acquisitor" of the AAS, its librarian, then director and finally president, and in 1970 he edited the Imprint Society's well-received third edition of Thomas's celebrated history, which he based on this 1874 second edition. Recipient Frank S. Hanlin (1924-82) was a well-known bibliographer and University of Iowa special collections director. Almost all copies of the second edition found are well-worn ex-library copies -- not so here, as this fresh and unusual association copy attests.