40. Payne, John / Hardie, James / Provenance I: Signature of J.J. Westervelt [Jacobus James Westervelt (1755 – 1826) – Schraalenberg and Provenance II: Charles Sydney Clark (1925) presented this set to Johnson Free Public Library at Hackensack, New Jersey].
A New and Complete System of Universal Geography [Complete with all 20 maps / illustrations] ; Describing Asia, Africa, Europe and America; with their Subdivisions of Republics, States, Empires and Kingdoms : The Extent, Boundaries and Remarkable Appearances of each Country; Cities, Towns and Curiosities of Nature and Art. Also giving a general account of The Fossil and Vegetable Productions [with hand-coloured plates] of the Earth. The History of Man, In all Climates, Regions and Conditions; Customs, Manners, Laws, Governments and Religions: The State of Arts, Sciences, Commerce, Manufactures and Knowledge. Sketches of the Ancient and Modern History of each Nation and People to the present time. To which is added, A View of Astronomy, As connected with Geography; Of the Planetary System to which the Earth belongs; And of the Universe in General. With a copious Index annexed to each Volume. Being a Large and Comprehensive Abridgement of Universal Geography. By John Payne. With additions, corrections and Improvements from the latest and best authors by James Hardie – Author of “The Principles of Latin Grammar”, “The American Remembrancer” and “Universal Tablet of Memory” &c. In Four Volumes.
First Abridged Edition. Volumes I [Asia] and II [Africa] (of IV). New York, Printed for and Sold by John Low, Book-Seller at The Shakespeare – Head, No.332 Water-Street, 1798 – 1799. Octavo – Edition. Pagination: Volume I [Asia]: Folded Frontispiece (Map of the World), XLVIII, 518 pages plus 10 unnumbered pages of an Index and one additional page with Directions for the Bookbinder for placing the maps and illustrations as well as Errata. Volume I includes all 10 Maps / Engravings as called for / Volume II [Africa]: Folded Frontispiece (Map of Africa), 578 pages plus 12 unnumbered pages of an Index plus one additional page with Directions for the Bookbinder for placing the maps and illustrations as well as Errata. Volume II includes all 10 Maps / Engravings as called for. Hardcover / Modern Library – Binding with the original 18th century – work bound in. Former library copy of Bergen County Historical Society (cancelled) and Johnson Free Public Library in Hackensack, New Jersey, with a very boring, modern library binding and library cards applied to the endpapers only, leaving the bookblock with text and maps and illustrations entirely untouched from any library-signs. Very good condition with some signs of external wear.