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First edition, first issue, the extremely rare privately printed first edition of Jefferson's only book-length work published in his lifetime. Jefferson presented this copy to his close friend and confidant, Charles Williamos, for re-presentation to Simon Gabriel Boutin (1720-1794), a noteworthy collector of natural history and creator of the Folie Boutin, a spectacular garden and park in Paris. This copy, which has a lengthy presentation inscription from Williamos on Jefferson's behalf, was later owned by the renowned American bibliographer and librarian, Wilberforce Eames, and then by a descendant of Jefferson himself. The publication Jefferson originally wrote the Notes in response to a series of queries sent to him by French diplomat François Barbé-Marbois. He composed his first replies in 1782, after serving as governor of Virginia in the last stages of the American Revolution. At the urging of their mutual friend, the distinguished French soldier and scientist, the Marquis de Chastellux, he expanded them into a series of 23 essays on every aspect of his native state. When Jefferson arrived in Paris as the American ambassador, he was pleased to find printing in the French capital was elegant and inexpensive, and he planned to print the Notes strictly for private circulation. After some delay, he ordered 200 copies, which were off the press by 10 May 1785. The presentation Jefferson distributed a portion of the 200 copies directly to friends, and he shipped copies to James Madison and George Wythe in Virginia to distribute for him to friends there, as well as students at William and Mary. No copies were for sale: the book was only obtainable directly from Jefferson, Madison, or Wythe. In most of the copies he personally distributed, Jefferson wrote similarly worded gift inscriptions, requesting the recipient not to let them fall into the hands of anyone who might publish them. This, however, is the only recorded copy of Notes with a contemporary presentation inscription not by Jefferson, Madison, or Wythe. Jefferson entrusted this copy to his intimate but highly controversial friend, Charles Williamos, for re-presentation to Simon Boutin. Williamos's inscription reads in full: "M. Williamos à l'honneur de presenter ce petit temoinage de son attachement pour Monsieur Boutin, qu'il a reçu de l'auteur Mons. Jefferson à cet effet. Mais comme ce digne ami desire que son ouvrage ne soit pas donne au public M. Williamos espère des bontes de Monsieur Boutin qu'il ne le communiquer a personne dont il ne soit absolument sur, crainte que les volontes de l'auteur ne soient enfreintes" ("Mr. Williamos has the honour of presenting this little testimony of his attachment to Mr. Boutin, which he received from the author Mons. Jefferson for this purpose. But as this worthy friend desires that his work should not be made public, M. Williamos hopes from the kindness of Monsieur Boutin that he will not communicate it to anyone of whom he is not absolutely sure, lest the author's wishes be violated"). Wiliamos's inscription echoes Jefferson's usual warning not to let the contents be made public. This is ironic, as Williamos is the very person Jefferson named, in a letter to James Madison of February 1786, as having let the Notes fall into the hands of the Paris bookseller, Pierre-Théophile Barrois. This exposure ultimately led to the publication of a French translation, contrary to Jefferson's original intention. The Swiss-born Charles Williamos was a shadowy figure, perpetually seeking office in the Americas with little success. He may have befriended Jefferson when both men were in Williamsburg in July 1766. He was then in British service and, from 1768 to 1772, was collector of customs in Jamaica, but he found his role there "detrimental to health and fortune". In the next few years, he sought various colonial posts without success. He passed the years of the Revolution in England without performing military service because, he claimed, "it did not suit my principles". Arriving in Paris in autumn 1784, he soon became embedded in Jefferson's household, dining with him every day. However, Jefferson broke off the intimacy forever with a furious letter of 7 July 1785, ostensibly for taking liberties with his name regarding an unpaid tailor's bill, but perhaps because Jefferson had realized that Williamos was a British spy. Williamos never recovered Jefferson's confidence and died suddenly that November. Jefferson must have presented this copy to Williamos sometime between 10 May and 7 July. Whether this is the very copy Barrois caught sight of must remain a moot point. It was still in Boutin's possession in 1787. Perhaps Jefferson gave Williamos two copies, one for himself, another to pass on to Boutin, though if he did, Williamos's own copy has never surfaced. The early presentation date means that this copy of Notes is in the earliest state, with leaves D2-3 uncancelled, the monetary figures uncorrected on pages 315-18, and "above the mouth of the Appomattox" crossed out in ink on page 5 (presumably by Jefferson). It is also without the three additional pamphlets that Jefferson had printed and bound up with later copies. The book Initially prepared by Jefferson only for distribution to personal friends, Notes on the State of Virginia ultimately went through several dozen editions during his lifetime and is now recognized as an enduring classic of Americana, as well as one of its greatest rarities in this first edition. Notes is vastly informative, but it is also a mirror of Jefferson's tastes and personality. J. M. Edelstein observed "Jefferson wrote about things which interested him deeply and about which he knew a great deal; the Notes, therefore, throws a fascinating light on his tastes, curiosities, and political and social opinions." Provenance Boutin was guillotined on 17 July 1794, during the Reign of Terror, and this copy eventually made its way into the hands of legendary Americanist and bibliographer Wilberforce Eames (1855-1937). It was sold at Eames's 1910 Anderson Galleries sale for $200, and soon became the possession of a direct descendant of the author, Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, Jr. (1863-1912), whose bookplate is on the front endpaper. It remained in the family's hands until 2012, when it was purchased by its most recent owner at Christie's. READ MORE Octavo (199 x 127 mm), pp. [2], 391, [1]. Contemporary French cat's paw calf, spine richly tooled in gilt, gilt morocco label. Housed in a calf-backed folding case. Folding table bound between pp. 168 and 169, full-page woodcut of Madison's Cave on page [35]. Light shelf wear, joints split but holding, spine rubbed, chipped at spine ends. Internally fine. Inscribed to "M. Boutin" by Charles Williamos on behalf of Jefferson on front free endpaper verso. A few words crossed out in ink (presumably by Jefferson) on p.5. Bookplate of Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, Jr. on front endpaper recto. A very good copy, in its original binding. Church 1189; Howes J-78; Reese, Federal Hundred 6; Sabin 35894; Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 4167; Streeter Sale 1722; Vail 728; Verner, A Further Checklist of the Separate Editions of Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia.