Historic Tales of Olden Time: Concerning the Early Settlement and Progress of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania: for the Use of Families and Schools: Illustrated With Plates by Watson, John Fanning (1779-1860) - 1833

Philadelphia: E. Littell and by Thomas Holden, 1833. First Edition, First Printing. Half-Leather. Fine/No Dust Jacket As Issued.


Rebound in half brown leather to complementary marbled boards with five raised bands with titles and decorations in gilt. 16mo; 6.5 inches tall; 316 pages with an index, 7 unnumbered leaves of plates; Engraved title page with vignette; Frontispiece of William Penn.

The bindings are very tight and square. Text clean, light even toning, occasional spotting. minimal shelf handling wear. The plates are toned as is the engraved title page.  Ownership inscription of William L Hancock, 1835 in period cursive twice on the send blank endpage.. An important early account with firsthand reports.

John Fanning Watson was a Philadelphia antiquarian, a chronicler and an historian who became a professional writer.  A bookseller, then a bank cashier by trade, he worked for the Germantown Bank, and Philadelphia, Germantown and Norristown Railroad. As a young man he began gathering the reminiscences of elderly people and collected them in the first major history of Philadelphia was published.

Subjects: Philadelphia (Pa.) -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775;  Social life and customs.

Ref: Howes W170.