Kellock, Harold. Parson Weems of the Cherry-Tree; Being a short account of the Eventful Life of The Reverend M. L. Weems, Author of many Books and Tracts, Itinerant Pedlar of divers Volumes of Merit: Preacher of vigour and much renown, and First Biographer of G. Washington. New York and London: The Century Co., 1928. First Edition, First Printing. [11064]
Olive cloth spine, brown marbled boards with applied title to front, edge-worn, good joints, 8 x 5 1/4 inches, tight, no dust wrapper. [i-x], [1]-212 clean pp. Good. Hardcover.
Title continues: Faithfully set down by a latter-day scrivener and writer of noteworthy lives, Harold Kellock. Embellished with several superb illustrations & plates from the books & tracts of the Reverend Doctor.
An enjoyable account of the eccentric Mason Locke Weems (1759-1825), Episcopal clergyman, itinerant bookseller, author, fiddle-player, moralist, and fabulist. His books and tracts, embellished with invented scenes and stories, were widely popular in the Federal period, in which he traveled up and down the Atlantic coast, peddling his wares. His Life of Washington introduced the famous incident of the cherry tree, which Weems claimed was told him by an eye-witness, but is now considered to be one of his inventions.
An eminently readable and charming book that we ourselves enjoyed reading, as would most bibliophiles. It gives insights into bookselling and book-making in the Federal period. Weems was a bookseller for Mathew Carey, and was the sales agent for Chief Justice Marshall's Life of Washington.
