The Footprints of Time by Chapels Bancroft (RARE Multi-Layered Provenance), 1878 📜🇺🇸🏛️

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare 1878 edition of The Footprints Of Time by Chapels Bancroft, published by R. T. Root.

This monumental historical and political treatise is a premier acquisition for any serious collector of fine and historically significant first editions. This book is a singular volume that sought to synthesize vast historical information with an explanation of American governance, reflecting the ambitious intellectual aspirations of its era.

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2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

The Footprints Of Time is an ambitious historical and political treatise. The book offers a comprehensive account of the progression of civilization, meticulously tracing the influence of the Old World on the formation of American institutions. It also includes a detailed analysis of the history and growth of the English colonies and the American system of government, all supported by a wealth of facts and statistics.

The book’s numerous engravings and maps make it a visually rich and historically significant artifact.

The book also features a frontispiece portrait of George Washington.

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3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Chapels Bancroft was an American author who published this comprehensive historical and political treatise in 1878. His work, which offers a detailed analysis of the American system of government and the history of the English colonies, is a reflection of his ambitious intellectual aspirations.

This singular volume sought to synthesize vast historical information and provide a comprehensive account of the progression of civilization.

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1878, this book is a tangible link to the post-Civil War era. This was a period of national redefinition and westward expansion in the United States. The book served as a guide for a nation grappling with its identity and its place in the world.

It reflects a cultural trend in America where a new generation of writers sought to document and preserve their personal and family legacy. The book is a unique window into the history of American publishing and the ambitious intellectual aspirations of its era.

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This 1878 First Edition is a core acquisition for a collector building a focused library on post-Civil War American history and the foundational texts of American governance.

This book speaks directly to an individual who values a work not just for its physical rarity but for its intellectual, cultural, and historical importance.

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This 1878 First Edition of The Footprints of Time is a genuinely scarce asset.

The book is 147 years old, having survived over a century of history.

Its value is overwhelmingly driven by its market scarcity, its historical importance, and its status as a true first edition. This is a premium asset for a discerning collector.

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This copy is a genuine and handsome survivor, showing the authentic wear of a cherished book from the late 19th century.

• Binding: The decorative brown cloth binding shows authentic wear consistent with its age, including rubbing, scuffing, and some loss of the original finish.

• Pages: The pages have some expected discoloration and foxing, but the text and illustrations remain clear and readable.

• Structural Integrity: The binding is tight and sound, ensuring the book's structural integrity.

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8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The book's provenance, with its personal inscription and an ex-libris stamp, adds a deeply personal and historical dimension to its history.

• The book also features a frontispiece portrait of George Washington.

• The ex-libris stamp of James B. Kelly indicates that this book was once part of a personal library, a detail that is of great interest to collectors.

• The inclusion of a secondhand purchase receipt from 1985 provides a verifiable record of the book's recent ownership, a key detail for collectors who seek documented history.

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9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: The Footprints Of Time: And A Complete Analysis OF The American System Of Government

• Author/Maker: Chapels Bancroft

• Year: 1878

• Publisher/Foundry: R. T. Root

• Place of Origin: Boston, USA

• Edition: First Edition

• Format/Binding: Hardcover, Decorative Cloth

• Rarity: Rare

• Transcription:

  • Inscription 1: “JH Stafferds, from Aunt, Xmas 1909”

  • Inscription 2: “James B Kelly” with an ex-libris stamp.

  • Receipt: A secondhand purchase receipt from 1985.