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Description

Extremely rare view of Falmouth, Maine (Portland), engraved by John Norman, issued with Part 1 of Volume II of the The HIstory of the War In America (the actual title, as noted below, was Impartial History...), with rare title page.

View of the harbor of Falmouth being attacked by warships. Shws a church, windmill, wharves, ships, and burning dwellings.

Lieutenant Henry Mowatt led a squadron of four British ships to Falmouth harbor, present-day Portland, Maine, and issued an ultimatum that the people of the town give up their weapons or risk destruction of the town. Instigated to subdue the rebellion amongst the colonists, the bombardment of Falmouth instead solidified support of the colonial cause. Authorship of this book is attributed to James Murray by Evans. Shadwell attributes the print to John Norman.

This view appeared in volume 2 of An Impartial History of the War in America, between Great Britain and the United States, from its commencement to the end of the war. (Boston : Printed by Nathaniel Coverly and Robert Hodge, at their office in Newbury-street, 1781, 1782 and 1784), however we are informed that most copies of this work are defective and we have not located a copy of the book which includes the view which has been offered for sale in the past 40 years.

The present example is offered with a text section and temporary title page (typically referred to as a fasciicle).

OCLC locates 2 copies of the view (Library of Congress and New Hampshire Historical Society--partially trimmed into the title).

Condition Description
Includes a section of text and temporary title page
Reference
Shadwell, W.J. American Printmaking, 69; http://www.maine.rr…(Nov. 2003)