
1795 RARE MAINE HISTORY. Sullivan's History of Maine w/Rare Map & Important Provenance.
Sullivan's History of the District of Maine is a very desirable volume whenever it retains its original map, it being the earliest quality map of Maine extant. Aside from even its general rarity, this particular example, because of its interesting provenance, sits right at the heart of the history of the then-district of Maine and is a lovely piece of Americana. During the 18th century, the District of Maine was involved in a large-scale land grab controversy. One of the most significant players was The Plymouth Company, later known as The Kennebeck Purchase Company, Kennebec Proprietors, or The Proprietors of the Kennebeck Purchase from the late Colony of New Plymouth. Organized in 1749, they were one of several groups vying for ownership of significant tracts of land in Maine both before and after the American Revolution. Conflicting and overlapping land grants, fierce competition, and a virtual plague of squatters created a dynamic and highly litigated landscape. In the end, the Ply