View of Alfred M. Herkness' circular auction house on the 800 block of George, i.e., Sansom Street. Signage adorns the building in which a man, possibly Herkness, stands in the doorway. Signs advertise the sale of horses, carriages, and harnesses "twice every week" and harnesses are tacked along the doorway. Carriages, harnessed to horses and free-standing, line the streets, and men wait at the side of the building. Also shows the neighboring Fifth Baptist Church, a man waiting on horseback, and a gentleman at the opposite street corner. Originally erected for the exhibition of a cyclorama of Jerusalem, the building was acquired by Herkness in 1847 or 48. Herkness remained at this site until 1913. Building demolished in 1915., Date from Poulson inscription on recto: April 1848. S.E. cor. George & Ninth Sts., Title from duplicate in the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 589, LCP copy trimmed and lacking title., Wainwright retrospective conversion project, edited., Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bb38 H548. Originally part of the Dreer Collection., HSP copy includes advertising text above image: Auction sales every Saturday morning. Private sales daily.
Creator
Rease, W. H., artist
Date
[April 1848]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department W289 [P.2173]
