The Lewes Historical Society is pleased to announce that the landmark publication "Swanendael in New Netherland" by William J. Cohen will be available to the public for the first time on Sunday, July 18 from 4 PM - 6 PM at the Cannonball House at the corner of Front and Bank Streets in historic, downtown Lewes.

The book is a history of Lewes from prehistoric times through the War of 1812 paying special attention to the events and circumstances that led to the establishing of Swanendael on the shores of Cape Henlopen in 1631. Also, for the first time in a widely available edition, Cohen extensively examines the effects of the Warner Grant -- William Penn's proclamation in 1682 that the lands of Cape Henlopen would forever be held in the public trust. It is a story that has had implications for Lewes and land management in the Cape Region ever since and is a historic legal precedent that is invoked to this day.

A reception will be held to meet the author at the Cannonball House and copies of the book will be available. A special, signed, numbered and sealed collector's edition is available for $100.00 and regular copies of the book are available for $30.00. For more information about the book, please contact The Lewes Historical Society at 302-645-7670 or research@historiclewes.org.

©2002-2005 The Lewes Historical Society