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DIRECTORY - Francis WHITE (compiler). The Philade

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Philadelphia: Young, Stewart and M'Culloch, 1785. [4], 98, [2] pp., 8vo (192 x 115 mm). Contemporary paper wrappers. Housed in a cloth chemise and morocco-backed slipcase. Condition: vertical crease, some dampstaining, early owner's name on title effaced with minor paper loss. the second philadelphia directory, issued just two weeks after the first. Like MacPherson's Directory, this Directory lists many of the most noted residents of the city, including Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, etc., with their locations. Unlike MacPherson, this directory is organized merely by the first letter of the last name, but lists occupations for nearly every identified resident, including himself, described as a "intelligence officer and dealer in public securities of every kind." Indeed, the terminal page is an advertisement for his financial services. The Directory also includes general information, including the members of Congress (although largely incomplete, noting that the delegates for the forthcoming year had not been received from most states), a listing of the "Grand Departments of the United States," the members of the "Supreme Executive Council [of Pennsylvania]" (with Benjamin Franklin as President), each member of the Pennsylvania Assembly, and the various judges, justices of the peace, and other municipal officers. Following that list is a list of the city's lawyers, clergy (including Jacob Cohan "For the Jewish Synagogue"), physicians, officers of the Bank of North America and the University professors. The next-to-last page contains a "Table of Dollars and other Coins" showing the variations in values in the different states, a list White was certainly capable of compiling considering his occupation. rare. Like the previous lot, only the Laird U. Park copy of this directory has appeared at auction in the last quarter century. Evans 19385; Howes W351; Spear p. 273.

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