AMERICA - [NATHANIEL FANNING] Narrative of the Adventures of an American Navy Officer, who Served During Part of the American Revolution under the Command of Com. John Paul Jones, FIRST EDITION, light toning and the occasional light spot, single very small worm-hole to blank margin of first 4 leaves, small hole (affecting 4 letters) to pp.181-2, 3 or 4 leaves softened at blank fore-margin, short tears and minor loss in lower blank gutter margin of several leaves, but generally a very good copy, contemporary sheep, red morocco gilt lettering label ("Navy Officer") on spine, single worm-hole to upper cover and a few abrasions [Howes F29; Sabin 23783], 8vo, New York, Printed for the Author, 1806 FIRST EDITION OF A GREAT RARITY OF AMERICAN NAVAL LITERATURE - the narrative giving the "earliest authoritative account of Jones' Revolutionary actions" (Howes). The author was the brother of the famous explorer and sea captain, Edmund Fanning ("Pathfinder of the Pacific") and private secretary to Captain John Paul Jones during the famous engagement between his ship, the Bonhomme Richard, and the British frigate Serapis. Fanning's account was preceded only by testimonies made in the court-martial against the Alliance's negligent Captain Pierre Landais, and several fanciful chapbooks.