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[AMERICANA]. BURKE, Edmund (1729-1797). Four Early Editions of Speeches on Reconciliation with the American Colonies Bound in One Volume, including: On American Taxation, April 19th,1774 [Third Edition]. [And:] On Moving His Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies, March 22nd, 1775 [Third Edition]. [And:] A Plan for the Better Security of the Independence of Parliament, 11th February, 1780 [Third Edition]. [And:] At the Guildhall, in Bristol… Upon Certain Points Relative to His Parliamentary Conduct, 1781 [Fourth Edition]. London: Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall. 1775, 1775, 1780, 1781. 8vo. iv, 96; 112; [4], 96; [4], 68 pp. Approximately 12 ½ x 8”. Bound in contemporary full calf, rebacked to style in modern brown calf, spine double ruled in gilt with contemporary burgundy gilt morocco lettering label, later endleaves (a pen note on the ffep states: “Re-bound in 1971 Bayntuns”; some rubbing, soiling to boards, neat contemporary ink notation of the contents in this value which mentions Burke’s death on the blank facing the title-page, occasional repairs in text, else text is generally clean, bound from parts, stabholes visible in the blank inner margins thoughout). Fine. Ink ownership stamp of Terence Bryant, 1980 on the fp. A Scarce collected volume of mixed early editions of four key speeches by Burke, published in London from 1775-81 and rarely found together in one volume, prominently featuring his Speech on American Taxation and his Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies—two pivotal works urging sympathy for the American cause that “established Burke as one of the greatest Parliamentary orators of all time”—this volume also with an early edition of his Speech at His Arrival at Bristol, in which he “addresses himself to American problems,” and an additional early editions of speeches further speaking on parliamentary reform. Rarely found together in one volume, this collection of his four major speeches by Edmund Burke, all issued by his own authorized publisher, begins with the two speeches in what is held as the first authorized edition of Mr. Edmund Burke’s Speeches, and continues with other separately issued speeches by Burke, who was first elected to the British Parliament in 1765, the year of the Stamp Act. Prominently featured herein is his landmark speech On American Taxation, which he delivered before Parliament on April 19, 1774, only months after the Boston Tea Party. With striking eloquence, Burke urges greater sympathy for the American colonies, and proclaims “Do not burden them by taxes… Tyranny is a poor provider” (89-94). Britain would not desist, however, and by September the Continental Congress had convened in Philadelphia. In March of the next year, Burke again spoke to Parliament as Revolution neared, and this volume of six exceptional speeches continues with his Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies. “More universally admired than any other of Burke’s productions” (Encyclopedia Brittanica). Burke urges Britain to work with America, or “instead of a standing revenue, you will therefore have a perpetual quarrel” (93). These speeches fully “established Burke as one of the greatest Parliamentary orators of all time” (Yolton I:143). His influence is further assured by this volume’s final two speeches, delivered by Burke as Britain neared the end of its long war with America. In Guildhall he pointedly speaks to debt incurred by “the black and bloody characters of the American war”, and in Plan for the Better Security he targets parliamentary corruption in a speech praised by contemporaries as a “noble and wonderful piece of oratory” (Monthly Review).