Rare Book Monthly
Articles - November - 2005 Issue
Freeman's Begins Third Century with Celebration
An irreplaceable first map of Pittsburgh
* Post's Second Journal published under the auspices of Benjamin Franklin, describes the successful attempt of the Moravian missionary to win over Indians on the Ohio from France to British interests. * Walton's Narrative of Captivity is of special interest for its account of Indian life. * Read's Letter to John Ladd decries the massacre of Indians in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by the Paxton Boys. * Franklin's scathing condemnation of the Paxton Boys' murderous attack apparently deterred the further killing of unarmed Native Americans. * Samuel Hopkins' work is represented by Franklin's first Philadelphia printing of the conclusion of Hopkins' History of New England's Housatunnuk Indians. Pemberton, John (1727-1795). Prominent Philadelphia born Quaker preacher, opposing armed resistance to Britain, he was imprisoned by the Continental Congress in 1777 but received an official pardon from Washington in 1778, he kept a journal throughout his incarceration.
$3,000-5,000
Lot 3. 2 vols. [Franklin, Benjamin]: Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital. Philadelphia: B. Franklin and D. Hall, 1754. 4to, old sheep; worn & defective, covers detached. Some dampstaining along bottom & fore-edges of title page, some dampstaining to bottom fore-edge corners throughout, very minor scattered foxing. Leaf size: 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches; 229 x 190 mm. * Continuation of the Account of Pennsylvania Hospital. Philadelphia: B. Franklin & D. Hall, 1761. 4to, orig. blue wrappers; chipped, blistered, creased & worn. Dampstaining along bottom 1/2 of fore-edge of title page. Some chipping at bottom of last signature - no loss of printing. Leaf size: 9 1/2 x 7 inches; 241 x 178 mm.
Franklin was a prime force in founding the institution, was its first secretary, and later chairman of its trustees; in his Autobiography, he wrote that he could remember no maneuver the success of which gave him at the time more pleasure than that of persuading the citizens and assembly to contribute matching funds to start the hospital (1750-1751). By 1754 the trustees felt they owed their supporters some accounting of their activities before seeking more contributions and asked Franklin to write a history of the hospital. Miller 587 & 764; Evans 7197 & 8972
$3,000-5,000
Lot 4. 1 piece. (American Revolution.) Printed Broadside. [Restraining Acts]: "A Bill for the impartial administration of justice in the cases of persons, questioned for any acts done them in the execution of the law, or for the suppression of riots and tumults in the province of Massachusetts-Bay, in New England" [and] "A Bill for the better regulating the government of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in North America" [caption titles]. [Philadelphia: Hall and Sellers], [June 15, 1774]. [Postscript to the Pennsylvania Gazette No. 2374]. First Philadelphia printing. Broadside folio (16 1/2 x 10 inches), text printed in three columns. Light creasing (where once folded), small chips at three corners (in blank margins), small surface abrasion in lower portion of third column (approx. 1/2 x 1/2 inch - with loss of a few words).
