Beschreibung:

The American Crisis. Number 1.
within The Connecticut Jounal and Weekly Advertiser…Numb. XXXIV ]. Boston: John Gill, 16 January 1777. 4 pp., bifolium (390 x 250 mm). Text in three columns. The text of the American Crisis occupying the entire last page. Disbound. Condition : minor staining, cellotape repairs. Provenance : Rev. J. Mansfield (contemporary signature). very early printing of the american crisis number one: “these are the times that try men’s souls…” This first number of Paine’s famous series written and published during the war was first published in the 19 December 1776 issue of the Pennsylvania Journal. “The great effect produced by Paine's successive publications has been attested by Washington and Franklin, by every leader of the American Revolution, by resolutions of Congress, and by every contemporary historian of the events amid which they were written. The first Crisis is of especial historical interest. It was written during the retreat of Washington across the Delaware, and by order of the Commander was read to groups of his dispirited and suffering soldiers. Its opening sentence was adopted as the watchword of the movement on Trenton, a few days after its publication, and is believed to have inspired much of the courage which won that victory, which, though not imposing in extent, was of great moral effect on Washington's little army” (Writings of Thomas Paine, edited by Moncure Daniel Conway, I:p. 169). Following the printing in the Pennsylvania Journal, a pamphlet version was issued in Philadelphia and was followed by other newspaper editions across the colonies. Of this first Boston printing, the Continental Journal publisher reissued the text from the same type in broadside format (known in but one copy). Bristol B4306 (broadside).