PRINTED 1815 THE POEMS OF ROBERT FERGUSSON SCOT AMERICAN VIRGINIA PROVENANCE

Description

Up for auction is a volume with an unusual provenance.The title of the book :
The Poems of Robert Fergusson In Two Parts to Which is Prefixed The Life of the Author  And A Sketch Of His Writings With A Copious Glossary Annexed
Philadelphia : Published By Benjamin Chapman A. Small Printer. 1815.
The volume is fairly hard to find in this early American printing by Chapman. More importantly the book belonged to
Bazil Gordon
a Scot who emigrated to America and
recognized as the first millionaire in the United States.
This volume is
signed twice by Gordon
once on the front inside board pastedown and one on the rear board pastedown. In addition is the simple bookplate of his son
Douglas Hamilton. Gordon.
Condition : Acceptable/ Good bound in full leather approx ” 4 x 6”. Leather is dry and shows edge wear bumped corners, head and heal of spine show loss. Front hinge weak holding by two sections of string. On the plus side the book is complete with 334 pp. including adverts, preface, end papers etc. Internally only age toning present.
Background info regarding Bazil Gordon from the web:"
Gordon emigrated from Scotland to America, settling in Falmouth, Virginia in 1786 where he opened a small store. Gordon grew his business, exporting large amounts of tobacco from plantations along the Rappahannock River to England. He is believed to be America's first millionaire. In 1847, Bazil Gordon died.
At the end of his life, when he had finally finished accumulating wealth, his net worth was estimated in the millions, which, for the time, was large. By 1847, no other American had recorded a financial worth over a million dollars; it is for this reason that Gordon is believed and known for being the first millionaire in America.
"In closing this is a great early copy of Scottish poetry with a rare historical provenance as always any questions feel free to ask.