Details
Creator Taylor, Frank H. (Frank Hamilton), 1846-1927
Title An Early Burlington Printery
Date ca. 1922
Notes View of a printery on a cobblestone street where a horse is tied outside.
The seventeen-year boy, Benjamin Franklin, came to Burlington at the end of a fifty-mile tramp across the Jerseys and found there a kindly woman who fed him, and a boatman who gave him passage to Philadelphia. Four years later, in 1727, Franklin again came to Burlington with his first employer, a Jewish printer named Samuel Keimer, to print money for the province of New Jersey. To do this work Franklin built the first copper-plate press used in America, and also engraved the required designs. The printing, which occupied three months, was done in the small building shown in this drawing. Mr. Henry S. Haynes states that the structure antedates 1683, at which time it was occupied by Samuel Jennings, Governor of West Jersey. In this building Smith's History of New Jersey was printed in 1765 and, later, Isaac Collins printed here continental money for the Revolutionists. The State Gazette and New Jersey Gazette were born here. One of many publications produced in this little printery was an edition of the Bible. In modern times tailors, plumbers and other tradesmen occupied the place. It was torn down about 1897.
Taylor Catalog Number: 96
Is part of Frank H. Taylor Collection
Identifier Taylor - Case 6-15 [2717.F]
Call number Taylor - Case 6-15 [2717.F]
Image file Taylor-6-15.tif