GENERAL HISTORY OF PYRATES BY CHARLES JOHNSON [DANIEL DEFOE] 1725 THIRD EDITION

[JOHNSON, CHARLES. (PSEUD.) = DEFOE, DANIEL (ATT.)]. A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the island of Providence, to the present time. With the remarkable actions and adventures of the two female pyrates Mary Read and Anne Bonny; contain’d in the following chapters, Introduction. Chap.I. Of Capt. Avery. II. Of Capt. Martel. III. Of Capt. Teach. IV. Of Capt. Bonnet. V. Of Capt. England. VI. Of Capt. Vane. VII. Of Capt. Rackam. VIII. Of Capt. Davis. IX. Of Capt. Roberts. X. Of Capt. Anstis. XI. Of Capt. Worley. XII. Of Capt. Lowther. XIII. Of Capt. Low. XIV. Of Capt. Evans. XV. Of Capt. Phillips. XVI. Of Capt. Spriggs. XVII. Of Capt. Smith. And their several crews. To which is added, a short abstract of the statute and civil law, in relation to pyracy. London: printed for, and sold by T. Warner, at the Black-Boy in Pater-Noster-Row, 1725.

The third edition. Leather-bound. Hardcover. Octavo (200 x 125 mm). Pp. [20], 17-430, 417-427, [1] p., [3] leaves of plates (1 folded). Signatures: A⁸ (a)² B-2B⁸ 2C⁸(-2C8) 2c⁸ 2D⁶. English text. Bound in contemporary full calf. Illustrated with three engraved plates, signed: "B. Cole sculp.", one of these folding. Condition: GOOD. Re-backed retaining the original boards, the upper joint a little weak, the covers somewhat rubbed. Some annotations in pencil, title-page with a small defect at the upper edge, mild toning and foxing, folding plate with an old unobtrusive repair. Scarce.

Notes: Rare third edition of this work is often attributed to Daniel Defoe, though the work has recently been linked to Nathaniel Mist, a former sailor, journalist, and publisher of the Weekly Journal. First published in 1724, it was influential in forming the mythology of pirates, referencing for the first time pirates with missing legs or eyes, buried treasure, and the term "Jolly Roger." See J. R. Moore. "Defoe in the pillory," 1939, pp 126-188, and P.N. Furbank and W.R. Owens "Defoe de-attributions," 1994, pp 133-134. Sabin 36190. ESTC Citation No. T71965.