A very good example of Samuel Drake's "The History and Antiquities of Boston, from its Settlement in 1630 to the Year 1770" published by Luther Stevens, Boston. This is the 1856. First separate edition. Thick quarto - 840 pages including the appendix and index - Bound in half leather over marbled boards. Complete with three large folding views of Boston, maps, autographs and 39 full-page tissue-guarded engraved portraits of Boston historical figures from Samuel Adams to John Hancock. Rubbing to the leather corner tips, some wear with a small split along the spine and the marbled paper boards are rubbed and scratched in a few places. A previous owners name and a small bookseller label on the front flyleaf. Hinges are cracked, but the binding is holding together well. Some creasing, toning and a few chips to the edges of the first fold-out map of the city. Overall, a very good copy of this important early history of Boston.