James Macpherson | The first directory of Philadelphia, and the first separately published directory in the United States, listing Franklin's address

James Macpherson

MacPherson's Directory for the City and Suburbs of Philadelphia, extending to Prime-Street, southward; Maiden-Street, northward; and from the River Delaware to Tenth-Street, westward. Published October 1st, 1785, and to be corrected and republished annually. Containing, a Alphabetical List of the Names and Places of Abode of the Inhabitants. Philadelphia: Printed by Francis Bailey, at Yorick's-Head, no. 65, Market-Street, M,DCC,LXXXV (1785)

Small 8vo (164 x 98). Eith the 3 pages of "numbers of houses that were empty and those inhabited by people who would not give their names," 2-page errata, and an 8-page manuscript on flyleaves at rear. Lightly toned, occasional spotting, a few very pale stains, a tiny chip at edge affecting about 7 leaves in the center of the text, old paper repair near the lower corner of leaf T1 affecting the catchword on p. 145, the final leaf with one page of errata supplied in facsimile. Early pink paper wrappers, with manuscript title on the front cover; rebacked, lightly soiled, some chips and small losses along the wrapper edges. Housed in a custom leather-backed clamshell case.

First edition of Philadelphia's first directory, and the first separately published directory in the United States. "Franklin, Benjamin, his Excellency, 1, Franklin's Court" appears on page 48.

Macpherson's Directory lists over 6,500 names and addresses throughout Philadelphia. Besides Franklin, some of the other notable names are Charles Wilson Peale, Francis Hopkinson, Robert Morris, and David Rittenhouse.

The manuscript notes by Philadelphia antiquary John McAllister, bound in at the rear, list 62 directories published in Philadelphia between 1785 and 1856. This is apparently the earliest bibliography of Philadelphia directories. The list is accompanied by a short essay, also by McAllister, discussing both Macpherson's and Francis White's directories, both of which were issued in the same year. McAllister notes that Macpherson's Directory was advertised in June 1785, while White's was advertised in November of that year.

Rare: only this copy and the Laird U. Park Jr. copy have appeared at auction in the last 85 years, and ESTC cites only four copies in institutional collections.

REFERENCES

ESTC W14248; Evans 19067; Spear, American Directories through 1860, p. 273

PROVENANCE

Ramage? (illegible early ownership signature on title-page) — John McAllister (manuscript bibliography and essay)