(Benjamin Franklin & Samuel Rhoads) | Presentation copy of Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital

(Benjamin Franklin & Samuel Rhoads)

Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital; From its First Rise, to the Beginning of the Fifth Month, called May, 1754. Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, MDCCLIV (1754) [accompanied by:] Continuation of the Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital; from the First of May 1754, to the Fifth of May 1761. With an Alphabetical List of the Contributors, and of the Legacies which have been Bequeathed, for Promotion and Support thereof, from its First Rise to that Time. Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, MDCCLXI (1761)

Together 2 volumes, pot 4to (245 x 185 mm; Continuation slightly smaller). Woodcut printer’s device (Miller no. 29) on title-page of Account, eleven lines of epigraphic scripture from Deuteronomy and Mark on title-page of Continuation; some light browning, Continuation a little chewed at lower margin. Contemporary stiff blue-gray boards; Account soiled and rebacked, Continuation creased on front cover and restored at spine. Half marron morocco folding-case gilt, dual chemises.

First edition of both parts, the Account a presentation copy, inscribed on the front wrapper by Franklin, “For Mr. John Kidd.” Kidd had earlier subscribed to another project headed by Franklin, the Freemasons Hall, and Franklin undoubtedly thought the gift of this book might result in a gift to the hospital; however, Kidd does not appear among the lists of contributors.

Tipped to the front of the volume is a typed letter signed by Edwin Wolf 2d, 2 November 1976, Librarian of the Library Company of Philadelphia on Library Company letterhead stating “I examined the copy of Benjamin Franklin's Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, 1754, many years ago when it was in the possession of Mr. W. Logan Fox. I have it before me as I write. I was then and am now confident that the inscription on the front cover: ‘For Mr John Kidd,’ is in the autograph of Franklin. John Kidd was a merchant, a member of the American Philosophical Society and a subscriber to the first Dancing Assembly. In 1762, with William Bradford, he established the Philadelphia Insurance Office under the name of Kidd & Bradford. It seems likely that Franklin sent Kidd the pamphlet in hopes of getting a contribution for the hospital.”

The Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital in British North America, founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond; Franklin was the institution’s principal promoter, first secretary, and first chairman, as well as its historian. The Account, written by Franklin, and its Continuation, written by a committee of trustees directed by Samuel Rhoads, were both intended as fund-raising devices. “By 1754 the trustees felt they owed their supporters some accounting of their activities before seeking more contributions and asked [Franklin] to write this brief history which includes the texts of most of the founding documents,” as well as a list of contributors. Franklin “completed the manuscript on May 28, 1754, and by July 27, 1754, the 1500 copies ordered were off the press” (Miller).

For Franklin’s own summary of the genesis of the Pennsylvania Hospital, see the preceding lot.

REFERENCES

Miller 587, 764; ESTC W3479, W30541; Evans 7197, 8972; Hildeburn 1363, 1722; Guerra a272, a324; Norman 831; Sabin 25558; Streeter sale 2:956

PROVENANCE

W. Logan Fox (inserted letter) — Stuart Karu (Sotheby’s, 16 June 1992, lot 61) — Dr. John R. Hansell