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DIRECTORY - Clement BIDDLE (compiler). The Philad

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Philadelphia: James & Johnson, 1791. xviii, [2], 187, [1] pp., 8vo (192 x 120 mm). Blanks bound into the rear at a contemporary date with manuscript annotations [see note] and leaves from a contemporary almanac inserted. Contemporary calf, spine with raised bands, ruled in gilt, morocco lettering piece. Housed in a cloth chemise and morocco-backed slipcase. Provenance: William Attmore (signature on title and cost of the Directory and binding, manuscript annotations on the blanks in the rear); Sitgreaves Attmore (inked stamp on title); signatures of various Attmore descendents on the endpapers. the third philadelphia directory, and the first for the city since becoming the capital of the nation. Philadelphia's growth since MacPherson's and White's directories of 1785, coupled with Philadelphia becoming the capital of the new nation, necessitated a new directory, ably accomplished by Biddle. Listing approximately 6000 names, the directory includes for the first time the street numbers of each house, the numbering having been accomplished during the first Federal census. Residents are listed alphabetically, most with occupation, and include for the first time George Washington (190 High Street), Thomas Jefferson (274 High Street), Alexander Hamilton (79 So. Third Street) and the other members of the Federal government. Much further information about the city is given in a Preface and in the rear, including a general description of the city, names of public officials, rates of postage, etc. The contemporary additions to this copy are fascinating, and are identified as being accomplished by the original owner William Attmore, a noted Quaker merchant in the city. Additions include standard almanac tables (duties, weights and values, roads from Philadelphia with distances, etc.), a manuscript listing of the original members of the Diligent Fire Company, the names of streets in the various suburbs, tables on the growth of money, and more. rare. Only the Laird U. Park copy has appeared at auction in the last quarter century, and that catalogue noted but one other copy appearing in the twenty-five years preceding that sale. Evans 23205; Howes B425; Sabin 61602; Spear, p. 273.

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