Sherburne, Henry:

$1,250 · Offered by William Reese Company

THE ORIENTAL PHILANTHROPIST, OR TRUE REPUBLICAN. An early American novel set in China, and an early work of fiction printed in New Hampshire. In his preface Sherburne informs the reader that he seeks to offer instruction and examples to Americans by using the method of allegory, or fable, and as a result he has chosen to set his tale in China, "where the most stupendous fabulous legends originated." In that vein, there are also several references to Persia and "genies." This is one of two states of the first edition, with a prospectus for another work printed on the verso of the final page.

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