PHILADELPHIA NOT just Ben . . .
MULTICULTURAL ALWAYS!
A-C • Bibles • D-F • G-L • M • N-Q • R-T • U-Z
PHILADELPHIA 
We
Strove 
Resist
the Pun — “Math Major”?
Major, Nathaniel.
Manuscript Signed. Untitled. On paper, in English. 
Germantown,
Penna., 6 October – 23 December 1799. Folio (33.4 cm,
13"), [43] ff.
•
Neatly and clearly indited in this large-format manuscript are problems and
solutions for "Surveying by the Compass," "Multiplication of Algebraical Quantities,"
"Multiplication of Compound Surds," "Division of Surds," "Surveying by the Quarter
Compass," and "Practical Questions." 
It is very likely that Major was a teacher of mathematics
at the "college" or "college preparatory" level and that this is his lecture
book. The size both of the volume and of the handwriting would
make it easy to work from, in the classroom—one could glance over from the blackboard,
for prompting.
• Stationer's blank book: quarter sheep with marbled paper sides. Binding scuffed and rubbed. Joints open but covers firmly attached. Internally very good.
First
English-Language
Edition — Pr.
by
Bradford,
1795Martens,
[Georg Friedrich von]. Summary of the law of nations, founded on
the treaties and customs of the modern nations of Europe...translated from the
French by William Cobbett. Philadelphia: Thomas Bradford, 1795. 8vo. XIX, [1],
379, [1 (blank)] pp.
• Evans 29025; ESTC W29507; Sabin 44848. On Cobbett, see: The Dictionary of National Biography, XI, 142–45. Contemporary sheep, framed in blind tooling, spine with gilt-stamped title label; leather worn over edges and front joint fully open, spine showing some cracking and chipping. Front pastedown with inked ownership inscription dated 1839, also later pencilled inscription; front fly-leaf with a different inked ownership inscription. Scattered instances of minor spotting and offsetting.
Tough Times for a Famous “Name”Meade,
George. Autograph Letter Signed. Philadelphia, PA, 1798. Folio (31.7 cm, 12.5"). [2] ff.
Meade was, briefly, a member of the 3rd Philadelphia Battalion, but saw no military action himself; his grandson was Gen. George Gordon Meade, commander of the Army of the Potomac.
• On Meade, see: Dictionary of American Biography, XII, 473–74. Creased along folds, with a few ink blotches and very minor offsetting. Later pencilled note beneath signature.
With
a
Seal
Meant for ReuseMifflin, Samuel. Document signed on parchment, in English. “Exemplification of a common recovery with double vouchers of the messuage & plantation in Blockley late the estate of Morton Garrett.” Philadelphia, 1776. Folio (51.5 cm, 20.5"). [1] p. 
All the names involved here have powerful Philadelphia associations. A seal is affixed to the sheet, intended to be removed and used “for sealing of Writs in our Court.”
Blockley, in which the land in question was located, was a township located in West Philadelphia from about 1677 until its consolidation with the city in 1854. The name has lingered, although it has been superceded in general usage by the broader term “University City.”
• Parchment crisp and untorn, with outermost folded portions lightly spotted; front with early inked title as given above, plus pencilled numerals. An evocative document connected to some very prominent names, in excellent condition, with its seal protected for its intended reuse by a diamond-shaped paper covering.
A
Philadelphian's
Privately
Printed“Ghostly” VisionMoore, Charles Leonard. Ghost of Rosalys: a play. Philadelphia: Pr. for the author (Times Printing House), 1900. 12mo. 174 pp. 
Single-click
the image, for an enlargement. • Full library blue cloth, gilt-stamped on the spine, covers pressure-stamped with the name of a now-defunct library, spine with shelving label. Small tear to head of spine. Binding lightly soiled. Bookplate and library pocket present. Possible authorial inscription on front fly-leaf. Remnants of paper adhered to top edge of title-page. Pages clean. Very good. (7372)
Philadelphia-AreaFIRE
Insurance
(Mutual Assurance
Company). The deed of settlement of the Mutual Assurance Company,
for insuring houses from loss by fire, in and near Philadelphia. Philadelphia:
Pr. by W. Fry, 1818. 8vo (18.7 cm, 7.4"). 15, [1 (blank)] pp. 
In
libraries, this is a common item on microfilm—very uncommon, as a reality.
• Shaw & Shoemaker 44957. Stitched in paper wrappers, front wrapper with printed paper label; pencilled notations to upper margin of front wrapper, small smudge to back wrapper. Ownership inscription to front fly-leaf. A little foxing only.
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VI . . . |