Magnalia Christi Americana: Or, The Ecclesiastical History Of New-England, From Its First Planting In The Year 1620, Unto The Year Of Our Lord, 1698. In Seven Books

Hartford: Published By Silas Andrus, Roberts & Burr, Printers, 1820., 1820. 2 Volumes. 8vo. pp. 573; 595. contemporary mottled calf (head of Vol. II spine chipped, some light to moderate foxing). library bookplates. First American Edition, from the first London edition of 1702. "This, the most famous of Cotton Mather’s works, though relating generally to New England, is principally devoted to Massachusetts. It is the most famous book produced by any American during colonial times. Filled with a vast amount of valuable material, it is indispensable to the student of New England history; but its statements should be accepted only when corroborated by other contemporaneous writers." (Church) "Mather’s Magnalia is the most famous book of colonial times and the indispensable source for colonial social history. One part of it gives the history of the settlement of New England, another contains the lives of its governors and magistrates, the third relates the lives of "Sixty Famous Divines", the fourth a history and roll of Harvard College, the fifth is the history of the New England Church, and the last treats of the "Wars of the Lord", namely against the devil, the Separatists, Familists, Antinomians, Quakers, clerical imposters, and the Indians." (Streeter) Mather, who was born in Boston and educated at Harvard, followed in the footsteps of his father, Increase Mather, and became a Puritan clergyman. He was ordained in 1685 at the Boston Second Church, where he held office for the rest of his life. Howes M-931. Sabin 46393. cfChurch IV 806. cfStreeter II 658.. 1st Edition.