Frame contains: 1. Page of Rittenhouse Almanac, 1820; 2. Engraving of David Rittenhouse; 3. Newspaper clipping, "Rittenhouse's First Clock"; 4. Receipt signed by David Rittenhouse., Gift of George Maurice Abbot, 1929.
With glass negative of the Library Company seal. Reads: “Philadelphia__ 18__, The Library Company of Philadelphia having received from you __ The Directors of the institution have instructed me to transmit you their thanks. I have the honour to be, Your obedient servant.” Marked on the back, “Keim Phila.”
Reads: “No. __, The Library Company of Philadelphia, Purchased from James Cox, Artist of the City of Philadelphia, Communiter Bona Profundere Deum Est.”
Residence of Rev. William Marshall, no. 322 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Shows a partial view of Scots Presbyterian Church, where Marshall was the First Pastor. After a photograph by Frederick DeBourg Richards, March 1859. Marked on the back with a stamp, (illegible) N.J.W.?mmer, 5 Pear St., Phila., Engraving from a booklet entitled: 322 Spruce Street. Philadelphia: s.n., 1859 [54113.O.11 ; 2569.Q.22].
View showing the Associate Presbyterian Church, also known as the Secession Church, on Walnut Street above Fourth Street, Philadelphia. Also shows two crates in the front lot of the church and a partial view of the adjoining building, the former residence of Rev. William Marshall, first pastor of the Church. Marked on the back with a stamp, (illegible) N.J.W.?mmer, 5 Pear St., Phila., Engraving from a booklet entitled: 322 Spruce Street. Philadelphia: s.n., 1859 [54113.O.11; 2569.Q.22].
Reads: “Commercial Lithography, Established 1851, Theo. Leonhardt & Son, S.E. Cor. 5th & Library Sts., Opposite Drexel Building Philadelphia.” Reads down the left side, “Bonds, Certificates of Stock, Checks, Diplomas, Cards, Letterheads, Labels.”, Copperplate of an advertisement for the firm used in the 1894-1897 editions of Gopsills Philadelphia City Directory. Contains a view looking southeast of the multi-storied lithographic establishment and vignettes of the front and back of the "Silver Medal" awarded to the business by the Maryland Institute for "Lithographic Work" in 1878. View includes street traffic. Leonhardt & Son was a partnership established circa 1874 between Theodore Leonhardt and his son Arno. The firm operated from 123-125 South Fifth Street, i.e., s.e. cor. 5th and Library streets, beginning in 1890.
Block numbered in two places: 8108., Image of a woman and a boy; the woman sits on a chair between a table and a mantel with a clock on it; the boy runs toward her with a quill in one hand and paper in the other., Signed: Scattergood-Howell; the firm is listed in the Philadelphia city directory for 1852.
Block numbered in two places: 719 ; another number on side of block has been defaced., Image of an unidentified flower., Housed with fragment of another stereotype., , Provenance:, , Variant:
Block numbered 6269 in two places., Image of the interior of a tavern, with numerous men sitting at tables with drinks and cards; a central figure addresses the group., “N.J. Wemmer 215 Pear St. Phila” – Back of block. Boxwood dealer Nelson J. Wemmer is listed at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1861 to 1876., “A.S.S.U” – Back of block.
Block numbered in one place: 1756., Image of an unidentified flower, with blossom or fruit., "Branston" -- stamped on side of block. Note: at least two engravers named Branston worked in London in the 19th century., Block damaged: wood base has ca. 1 cm. loss in height.
Directory advertisement containing an ornamental border around advertising text., Published in The Mercantile register, or business man's guide.. (Philadelphia: H. Orr, 1846), p. 198., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSA 76
Date
[1846]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Dir Phila 1846 20728.O.1.198
Directory advertisement containing an ornamental border around advertising text., Published in The Philadelphia circulating business directory. For 1838. (Philadelphia: Published at Morris's Xylographic Press, 1838), p. 106., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSA 77
Date
[1838]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Dir Phila 1838 (35) 10840.O.106
Directory advertisement containing an ornamental border around advertising text., Published in The Philadelphia circulating business directory. For 1838. (Philadelphia: Published at Morris's Xylographic Press, 1838), p. 107., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSA 41
Date
[1838]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Dir Phila 1838 (35) 10840.O.107
Directory advertisement containing an ornamental border around advertising text., Published in The Philadelphia circulating business directory. For 1838. (Philadelphia: Published at Morris's Xylographic Press, 1838), p. 107., Not in Wainwright., Philadelphia on Stone, POSA 49
Date
[1838]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare Dir Phila 1838 (35) 10840.O.107
Block numbered in three places: 7864., Image of a falcon [?] perched on a rock in a natural setting. In the distant background, numerous birds are in flight.
Block numbered in two places: 9021, also 1460 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a woman and a girl indoors; the woman enters from or stands in front of a doorway, and places her hand on the girl’s shoulder; the girl sits at a desk with her hands clasped and two or three closed books in front of her; the room’s carpet has a circular design, and the walls have crown molding, suggesting that it may be an elaborate or well-furnished room; two large paintings hang on the walls., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
Block numbered in two places: 3898, also 172 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of two girls and a boy; the younger girl reaches up toward the older girl, who points or extends her hand toward the boy; the boy extends a ball in his hand; a small racket or paddle lies on the ground.
Block numbered in two places: 1976., Image of a hawk and its three chicks. The hawk is in flight with one of its chicks, and the other two are in the nest.
Block numbered in one place: 3476, also 620 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a hand inserting a rectangular envelope into a slot with a sign that says “Letter Box”; the part of the block where the letter should be is cut out of the block completely from front to back, suggesting that there may be multiple replaceable blocks that fit into this block for different uses.
Block numbered in two places: 3643., Image of a rabbit in a natural setting, and a man with a gun in the background., Tape (inscribed “629”) on obverse., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
Block numbered in two places: 5915, also numbered 136 in two places., Image of a man, two children and a dog. The man is looking towards what appears to be a church, but the children are looking at the dog in an outdoor setting., Illustration appears in The thunder-storm (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1870?), p. 127. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1857 to at least 1870; it was not listed in 1893. Caption of illustration -- "My faithful Plato.", “Church dog” -- inscribed on back of block., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila." -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Signed in reverse: VanIngen-Snyder. Van Ingen & Snyder, a partnership between William H. Van Ingen and Henry M. Snyder, was active between 1853 and 1871., Tape (inscribed “Van Ingen Snyder”) on side of block.
Block numbered in two places: 6204, also 1417 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a boy selling books (Bibles?) in the street, carrying a tray suspended around his neck while extending one to a man looking on; several other people are gathered around, including women wearing cloth headdresses resembling wimples., “N.J. Wemmer 215 Pear St. Phila” – Back of block. Boxwood dealer Nelson J. Wemmer is listed at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1861 to 1876., “Am.S.S.U” – Back of block in three places., “Italy. Buy the light, the true light” – Inscribed on side of block.
Block numbered in one place: 6450, also 1269 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a seated man pointing toward a standing boy and holding a walking stick in his other hand; to their side is a table which has what appears to be a propped-up book on it., “Every man his own fortune-teller” – Inscribed on back of block.
Block numbered in two places: 5902., Image of a man talking to two children, a boy and a girl, in an interior setting. The boy appears to be holding a hammer [?] and is handing something to the man., Signed in reverse: Van Ingen-Snyder [i.e. Van Ingen & Snyder], Van Ingen & Snyder, a partnership between William H. Van Ingen and Henry M. Snyder, was active between 1853 and 1871., “Flaw” -- inscribed on back of block., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856.
Block numbered in two places: 3552, also 1220 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a Native-American woman wearing a dress and a long shawl, which she pulls closed with one hand; behind her is a tipi; a pointing man wearing a feather headdress and a seated man or boy are also behind her and regard something in the distance., Illustration appears in History of the Delaware and Iroquois Indians formerly inhabiting the middle states, with various anecdotes, illustrating their manners and customs. (Philadelphia, 1832), frontispiece.
Block numbered in three places: 7796., Image of interior of Independence Hall, Philadelphia; male and female visitors include one black woman. Two decorative rondelles in corners depict a statue of George Washington and the Liberty Bell, flanking an eagle., Signed: Lauderbach, sc.; S [i.e., Seymour?]., Illustration appears in Child's world, v. 33, no. 3 (Feb., 1876?), p. 1.
Block numbered in two places: 6132., Image of a woman and child walking; woman gestures to a building in the distance., "The Dark Places Frontisp."—Inscribed on side of block., “N.J. Wemmer 215 Pear St. Phila” – Back of block. Boxwood dealer Nelson J. Wemmer is listed at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1861 to 1876., Side of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
Block numbered in two places: 4644., Image of a man in a uniform speaking with a man on a horse; man in uniform gesturing behind himself; house shown in distance., “N.J. Wemmer. 5 Pear St. Phila.” -- Back of block. Nelson J. Wemmer is listed (as an artist) at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1848 to 1856., Side of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
Block numbered in two places: 1668., Image of a well-dressed man in a top hat speaking to two young boys, one on either side of him. One of the boys has put his hands in the air., Tape (inscribed “341”) on obverse.
Block numbered in two places: 7893., Image of two eagles [?], both perched on branches in a natural setting. One eagle is in the foreground, and one is the background.
Block numbered in two places: 6572, also 369 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of two girls looking at each other; one looks out an open window and rests her hand on the railing across what appears to be a small balcony; the other girl rests one hand on the edge of the same railing and holds a basket in her other hand, with feet on two different stairs of a small stoop., “N.J. Wemmer 215 Pear St. Phila” – Back of block. Boxwood dealer Nelson J. Wemmer is listed at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1861 to 1876., “Maggie + Bessie Frontispiece M.S. p. 3.”
Block numbered in two places: 3282., Image of a vulture in a natural setting with pyramids in the background., Illustration appears in The Union spelling book (Philadelphia, 1838), p.14., Inscribed on the side of the block: 'V' and ‘ed. Spel. Book.’
Block numbered in two places: 3659., Image of two boys regarding each other; the boys stand under a sign that reads “Express Office,” and stand with backs turned, but look at each other over their shoulders; one boy wears a coat and holds a cane, and the other wears an apron and carries a package over his shoulder.
Block numbered in one place: 3163., Image of Moses seated, holding the Ten Commandments while rays of light shine on him., Illustration appears in Four Seasons, Child's home library series no. 10 (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1870?), p.13., Illustration also appears in James and Sisters, Child's home library series no. 11, (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1870?), p. 7., Illustration also appears in Man lost and saved (Philadelphia, between 1857 and 1907?), p. 8. This title was listed in American Sunday-School Union catalogues from Jan. 1853 to at least 1893., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
Block numbered in at least one place: 7148., Image of two martin birds in an exterior setting. One bird is perched on a nest, the other is in flight., Illustration appears in The Swallows of Leigh Farm : a story for children (Philadelphia, 1893?), p. 11. This title was listed in the American Sunday-School Union catalogue for 1893. Caption of illustration -- "The Window Martins.", Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
Block numbered in one place: 3748., Image of a man resting his head on one of his hands, appearing to be in deep thought. The man’s other hand holds a watch., Tape (inscribed “934”) on obverse., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
Block numbered in two places: 86., Image of two birds in a natural setting., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper., , Provenance:, , Variant:
Block numbered in one place: 6391, also 1278 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a girl inside a gated yard watching a man, a boy, and a girl ride down the street on horses; buildings are visible in the background., Back of block obscured by pasted-down paper.
Block numbered in seven places (two imprinted, five written): 6485., Image of a girl and a boy leaning over an animal, likely a dog, lying on the ground; there are trees and a house or cabin in the background., “V.W. & Co. [i.e., Vanderburgh, Wells & Co., boxwood dealers] 18 Dutch St. N.Y.” – Back of block., “Harsh words” – Inscribed on side of block.
Block numbered in two places: 5983., Image of a man in European garb who appears to be watching a group of Native Americans, in a natural setting., “Brainerd [unintelligible] the [unintelligible] Indians” -- inscribed on side of block. [i.e. David Brainerd?], “N.J. Wemmer & Son. 215 Pear St. Phila.” -- stamped twice on back of block. Boxwood dealer Nelson J. Wemmer is listed at this address in Philadelphia city directories from 1861 to 1876.
