Hilliard d'Auberteuil — Histoire de l'Administration de Lord North 1784
Hilliard d'Auberteuil — Histoire de l'Administration de Lord North 1784
A first edition primary source on the American Revolution — written by a French aristocrat who lived in America from 1776 to 1783, with direct ties to Benjamin Franklin. Originally begun as a translation of the anonymous English A View of the History of Great Britain during the Administration of Lord North (1782), Hilliard extensively rewrote and expanded the text with firsthand narrative of the American War. Lord North served as British Prime Minister throughout the Revolution and is remembered as "the minister who lost America."
The Franklin Connection: Hilliard corresponded directly with Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Franklin lent him research materials, and Hilliard submitted work to Franklin for review before publication. The Franklin Papers at Yale preserve their correspondence (Founders Online, vols. 38 and 41).
Three parts bound in one or two octavo volumes (20 × 12 cm), with a large folding engraved map Carte de l'Amérique Septentrionale depuis la Baye d'Hudson jusqu'au Mississippi. Contemporary calf binding. References: Sabin 31901; Howes N-190; JCB (1865) III: 2955.
About Michel-René Hilliard d'Auberteuil (c.1740–1789)
Michel-René Hilliard d'Auberteuil was a French adventurer, lawyer, and political writer who lived in America from 1776 to 1783 — throughout the years of the American Revolution. He corresponded directly with Benjamin Franklin in Paris; Franklin lent him research materials, and Hilliard submitted work to Franklin for review before publication (see the Franklin Papers, Founders Online, vols. 38 and 41).
About the Work
Histoire de l'administration de Lord North was published at London (likely printed at Paris) in 1784 — the year after the Treaty of Paris ended the war. Originally begun as a translation of the anonymous English A View of the History of Great Britain during the Administration of Lord North (1782), Hilliard extensively rewrote and expanded the text with firsthand narrative of the American War. Lord North served as British Prime Minister throughout the Revolution and is remembered as "the minister who lost America."
Scarcity & Market Context
First edition Hilliard sets appear in the $800–$2,000 range. Copies with the folding map of North America in good condition are particularly prized by American Revolution collectors. References: Sabin 31901; Howes N-190; JCB (1865) III: 2955.
Institutional Holdings
Copies at the John Carter Brown Library, the Library of Congress, McGill University Library, the Toronto Public Library, and major American Revolution research collections.
Dimensions
Octavo, approximately 8 × 5 inches (20 × 12 cm), with large folding engraved map
Format: This is a bound book (not framed). Dimensions above refer to the book's physical size. Individual plates or pages cannot be separated without damaging the binding.
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