[ B. F. Stevens of Vermont and his 'Index of all the documents of American concern in private or public Archives of Great Britain, Holland, France and Spain', 1763-1783 ] Printed pamphlet: 'American Manuscripts in European Archives.'

Author: 
[ Benjamin Franklin Stevens (1833-1902) of Vermont, American bookseller in London ]
Publication details: 
Without place [ B. F. Stevens, 4 Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, London ] or date [ 1887 ].
£120.00
SKU: 16768

18 + [1]pp., 8vo. In red cloth half-binding, with brown marbled boards. Stamp of the Royal Historical Society on endpaper, and pencil shelfmarks. In fair condition, aged and worn. A curious production. The intent of the author (certainly Stevens) is to facilitate 'definite and permanent organisation', by his 'preparation of an Index of all the documents of American concern in private or public Archives of Great Britain, Holland, France and Spain that accumulated between the years 1763 and 1783'. The final page suggests that interested parties correspond with the members (named) of the acting committees of the Massachusetts Memorial, New York Memorial and New York Memorial in Chicago, or with Stevens in London. The document begins: 'The spontaneous action in December 1886 of the Historical and other Learned Societies, and of about 300 prominent men of letters in nearly every State of the Union, resulted in their Memorials to Congress presented in January 1887, which are here reprinted on pages 13 to 18. The unanimous and favourable report of the Library Committee in February is also here reprinted on page 6. It was not possible to reach the unopposed Joint Resolution, page 5, owing to the shortness of the session at the expiration of the 49th Congress. | The seven years' action of the Government may be briefly recapitulated, and consideration invited for farther proceeding.' Pp.16-18 carry a long list, in double column and small print, of individuals who 'recommend that Mr. B. F. Stevens be employed by Congress directly or through such Officer or Committee as it may select to prepare the said Index'. Several copies in WorldCat, none in UK.