[REDE (Leman Thomas)]. Bibliotheca Americana; or, A Chronological Catalogue of the Most Curious and Interest Books, Pamphlets, State Papers, &c. upon the Subject of North and South America, from the Earliest Period to the Present, in Print and Manuscript; for which Research has been made in the British Museum, and the Most Celebrated Public and Private Libraries, Reviews, Catalogues, &c. with an Introductory Discourse on the Present State of Literature in those Countries.1789

London: Printed for J. Debrett, J. Sewell, R. Baldwin, J. Bew and E. Harlowe, First edition, 4to (270 x 215 mm), [4], 271, [1]pp., upper fore-corner of title and first leaf torn away, and repaired with 4 letters of title supplied in manuscript, first few leaves stained at lower inner corner and with occasional spotting, marbled endpapers, nineteenth-century half morocco, marbled boards, rubbed, rebacked with orig. spine laid-down, old manuscript label on upper cover suggesting, "A rare volume, indispensable to Colls. of 'Americana'." This is the first attempt at a bibliography of European works about America. It is made more valuable by the inclusion of "An introductory discourse on the state of literature in North and South America." p. [5]-21. This, then is also the first bibliography of American literature. It is interesting to note that one of the 4 booksellers for whom it was printed is Elizabeth Harlow, a woman pioneer bookseller. Published anonymously, Rede's authorship has been established through his holograph letter and ms. transcript which are inserted in the Grolier Club copy of this work. cf. Stuart C. Sherman. Leman Thomas Rede's Bibliotheca Americana (in William and Mary quarterly, 3d ser., v. 4, no. 3, July, 1947). Church, 1235; Sabin, 5198; Besterman, col. 308.