Life of George Washington – Jared Sparks | Previously Unpublished Manuscripts & Records

The Life of George Washington by historian Jared Sparks, is an authoritative biography of America’s first president. Sparks, a distinguished editor of presidential documents who later served as Harvard’s president, based this narrative on extensive archival research conducted in the United States, London, and Paris (1828–1829). Originally derived from his twelve-volume collection, The Writings of George Washington (1834–1837), this compact edition integrates previously unpublished manuscripts and official records.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Life of George Washington
• Author: Jared Sparks
• Publisher: Boston: Little, Brown and Company
• Edition: 1853.
• Format: Octavo, single volume
• Binding: Original cloth
• Size: ~ 9.75 in × 6.75 in (24.5 cm × 17 cm)
• Collation: xix, [1], 562 pp.
• Illustrations: 3 engraved plates that include portraits of George and Martha Washington; a facsimile of George Washington’s signature and handwriting
• Contents Include:
  • Biographical narrative of George Washington’s life
  • Compilation of Washington’s correspondence
  • Analysis of Revolutionary War campaigns
  • Appendix of Letters and Documents.
• Provenance: Handwritten – Signature of George A. Meyer
• Reference(s): Howes S-814; Sabin 88987

Condition:

Very Good. Bound in original publisher’s cloth with blind-stamped boards and gilt spine lettering. Corners and spine show light wear. The text block is secure. Original endpapers. The two full-page engraved portraits are sharp, and the facsimile leaf reproducing Washington’s signature is present and intact. Internally, the pages show consistent toning with minimal foxing.

Why Collect This?

• Early Washington biography that uses previously unpublished manuscripts and official archival materials
• Scarce edition in octavo, single-volume format drawn from Sparks’s prior 12-volume presidential writings
• Appealing to collectors interested in early U.S. historical narrative and biographies