|
|
WESTCOTT, THOMPSON. ListingsIf you cannot find what you want on this page, then please use our search feature to search all our listings. Click on Title to view full description
|
|
|
1 |
WESTCOTT, THOMPSON. THE HISTORIC MANSIONS AND BUILDINGS OF PHILADELPHIA, WITH SOME NOTICE OF THEIR OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS.
Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1877. First edition Decorative Boards Very Good
Thompson Westcott, Philadelphia, 1820-1888, Lawyer, Law reporter, Editor-in-Chief of the "Philadelphia Inquirer," Pennsylvania House of Representatives, contributor to various journals. Westcott was the author of many books on Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, biography, etc. A scholarly detailed book on Philadelphia architecture providing original purchase of lands, original occupants and buildings, ancestry, political and religious affiliations, organizations and merchants, noted settler's of esteem, sale of lots, genealogy, histories of emigrants from England, Sweden and Germany. A very extensive history of how Philadelphia developed. Contents: Penn's Cottage, Afterward called ÒThe Letitia HouseÓ; The Slate-roof House, the 17th century rambling house at 2nd Street South of Chestnut, built for Quaker Merchant, Samuel Carpenter; Swedes Church (Gloria Dei); Old London Coffee House; Christ Church; Quaker Almshouse; Independence Hall: The State House; German Lutheran Church: St. Michael's and Zion; Stenton; Old Academy, Fourth Street; The Fishing Company of the State In Schuylkill; Bartram's House, (botanist);The Loxley House; Carpenter's Hall; Mount Pleasant; Cliveden (Chew House), Germantown; The Washington Mansion, Market Street; The Wister House, Germantown; Washington's Head-Quarters At Valley Forge; The House Where The Declaration of Independence was Written; The Office of Secretary of State For Foreign Affairs; Free Quaker Meeting House; Lansdowne; Robert Morris's Folly (1734-1806) the house pictured was on Chestnut St. between 7th and 8th, and almost ruined him financially. Westcott's piece on Morris provides a full biography on Morris, and his affiliations: signer of the Declaration of Independence, Merchant, Assemblyman, significant funding of the Revolutionary War, etc.; ÒThe Hills,Ó 1770, Robert Morris' purchase of 80 acres, known as ÔSedgely,' today Sedgley Park and Fairmount Park; Belmont; The Philadelphia Library; Bush Hill and The Woodlands; First Bank of The United States; The Solitude Sedgley; Harriton; Walnut Grove; Fairhill; Clarke Hall, Evergreen, The Plantation. With seventy-six illustrations, (many from rare old prints), most are half page or more, various 3/4 page, each very bright, such as: The Plantation House, (1717) one of the 11 tracts of land drawn-up by William Penn for Roxborough; Loxley House, how it was built, who owned it; Monkey House in the 'Zoological Garden,' the original Philadelphia Zoo; Stenton House, the earliest, best preserved historic house in Philadelphia. Built and owned by James Logan, Secretary William Penn. Westcott traces his early ancient Scotch family, the Logan's of Restalrig, in fascinating detail; Wister House, Germantown, presents the arrival of "one hundred and nine Palatines (or Germans), prominent men, carrying Rev. George Michael Weiss, the first minister of the Reformed Church that came to Pennsylvania. Johann Wister (Wistar), purchased a large tract of land in 1741 on Market St. between Third and Fourth, where built several shops, knows as Wister's Row. In 1744 he built the first in Germantown, a country home in favorable weather. A compendium of historical background on Philadelphia's architecture, and genealogy providing information on original purchases, lot size and area of Philadelphia, sales and transfers. While referencing people and organizations the formed the foundation of Philadelphia as it expanded. Included in illustrations is a "Plan of The City (of Philadelphia In 1682". Profusely illustrated, many from original engravings.
Green cloth boards, ornately stamped with gilt decorations and illustrations, gilt first letter to decorative script, spine also ornately decorated in gilt, Porter & Coates monogram to lower spine. Head and heal of spine rubbed, small chips, light fraying. Front hinge cracked, inside hinge reinforced Rubbing of extremities. Dark brown e.p.'s, f.e.p. decorative inscription: A. P. Elfreth From her affectionate Grandson, Jacob, Chirstmas 1877. Foxing to frontispiece, engraving: 'The State House in Phildelphia," "Independence Hall," Cha. Wilson Peale Pinat, Jllman Brothers Sculpt. tissue covered. All edges gilt. 528 pp., Tall 8 vo. Copyright 1877, no other date except inscription. First Edition.
Price:
115.00 USD
|
|
Add to Shopping Cart |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
WESTCOTT, THOMPSON. THE OFFICIAL GUIDE BOOK TO PHILADELPHIA A New Handbook for Strangers and Citizens
Philadelphia: Porter and Coates, 1875. Cloth Very Good
Illustrated with nearly one hundred engravings. With a history of the city. The map of Railways and Fairmount Park are missing. A list of "Changes, Additions and Corrections," from the time of writing to publication are stated in the first page. The "Guide" is endorsed by the Mayor of Philadelphia, William S. Stokely, reflected in a letter from him with the Coat Of Arms for the City of Philadelphia. Contents: Chart of Excursions from Philadelphia; Academies & Schools; Warves and Docks; Asylums; Churches; Banks; Parks; listing of Hotels, Lodgings, Restaurants; Clubs; Courts; Historic buildings and Homes: Custom House; Declaration of Independence; Carpenters Hall; Horticultural Hall; Northern Home and Soldiers' Orphans Home; Chew's House, etc.; Libraries; Markets; Coffee Houses; Trotting, Racing, and Driving Parks; Zoological Gardens, Fairmount Park; Amusements: Theatres; Minstrel Halls; Opera and Music; Art; Scientific Exhibitions, etc. A Chart of Coins: Value of Foreign Gold and Silver Coins in The Money of The United States; Postage to Foreign Countries; Foreign Consuls At Philadelphia..Thompson Westcott, (b.) Philadelphia, 1820-1888, Educated at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and became a member of the Philadelphia Bar in 1841. Westcott, wrote for many law journals, including the Public Ledger, was Editor and Chief of the "Inquirer" and received an editorial appointment for the Philadelphia "Record". He wrote various historical articles books on Philadelphia: Centennial Folio, 1876; Historic Mansions and Buildings of Philadelphia; the popular "A History of Philadelphia" 1884, with J. Thomas Scharf, and "A History of Philadelphia from It's First Settlements on the Delaware to the Consolidation in 1854".
Excellent engravings of the sites, Universities, Hospitals, scenic areas of the city, public buildings, such as the Ridgway Library Building, Broad & Christian Streets, over two pages. The Ridgway Library was built in 1878, which indicates to me that this issue is a later edition. There are also wonderful engravings of Fairmount Park's areas when it was considered a a 19th century get-away from the city for Philadelphia gentry, such as Hermit's Pool, Hemlock Glen, etc., and historic houses; the fountain at the Lemon Hill mansion, built by Henry Pratt in 1796; the house Solitude, John Penn, 1785, now part of the Zoological Gardens. A two page engraving of the Centennial Exhibition, 1876: "Cook's World's Ticket Offices Centennial Grounds Philadelphia," and many others. Along with over 70 pages of advertisements with illustrations: Manufacturers; Law Firms; Booksellers; Churches; Furniture; Chemist; Photographers; Grocers; Tailors; Department Stores (John Wanamaker & Co.), and many others. Prior to the Indexes the is a 26 page article, "Six Days In Philadelphia". Followed by Index to chapters, and another Index to Advertisers. Green cloth boards and spine, black scripted title to front board with gilt stamped City of Philadelphia Coat of Arms. Scripted gilt title to spine, nice and bright. Rubbing of extremities, slight fraying to lower spine end, front and rear joints each has short closed tears. Paste down has two decorative previous owner ex-libris plates, e.p. name written to top margin, previous owner oblong name plate to lower page. The front e.p.'s are text, rear is an ad, with paste down being a Short Index for Ready Reference, of which you can see an ad to the verso. Frontispiece, "New Public Buildings, Broad and Market Streets," which is actually and engraving of City Hall". I believe the missing maps were removed from the center of this book, as the text block looks repaired, not obvious. Page 203 second line "Franklin Market Company" has a thin red pencil line under the text, else clean text with a good font, bright illustrations, solidly bound. xvi,425, iii, 70. Page 67 1inch closed tear to side margin. Copyright 1875, although I think this is a later issue 1878. Rare to find in any edition. Please click for image.
Price:
125.00 USD
|
|
Add to Shopping Cart |
|
|
|
