Volume 10 , Issue 16

Book: Life of WIlliam Penn

I happen to be lucky to have in my possession a 1836 small book (approx. 5x7 inches and 3/4 inch thick) that belonged to my grandmother McGill. The book was written by M. L. Weems, entitled "The Life of William Penn, the Settler of Pennsylvania, Founder of Philadelphia, and One of the First Lawgivers in the Colonies, Now United States, In 1682, published in Philadelphia, PA, by Uriah Hunt, No. 101 Market St., and sold by the booksellers generally throughout the United States. Stereotyped by L. Johnson. 1836. From reading the copyright, it appears the first printing was around 1829.

The books cover is in what I would call fair to good condition for a 172 year old hardback book with some wear and tear on the outside, binding edge of the book. This book is NOT for sale, but I was wondering if anyone might know if this 1836 might be a valuable collectors item? Thanks for any help and information you might be able to give me.

Title page... The Life of William Penn - the Settler of Pennsylvania, the Founder of Philadelphia, and One of the First Lawgivers In the Colonies, Now United States, In 1682. written by W. L. Weems, published in Philadelphia, PA, 1836 by Uriah Hunt, No. 101 Market St., and sold by the booksellers generally throughout the United States. Stereotyped by L. Johnson.

Second page... Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit.
Be it remembered, that on the twenty-seventh day of July in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1829, Uriah Hunt, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"The Life of William Penn, the settler of Pennsylvania, the founder of Philadelphia, and one of the first Law-givers in the Colonies, now United States, in 1682. Containing also his celebrated treaty with the Indians -- his purchase of their country -- Valuable anecdotes of Admiral Penn -- also of King Charles II, King James II, King William, and Queen Anne, in whose reigns of William Penn lived -- curious traits in the character of the people called Friends or Quakers, who have done so much to meliorate the condition of suffering humanity. By M. L. Weems, author of the Life of Washington, &c."

Character of William Penn, by Montesquieu...
"William Penn is a real Lycurgus. And though the former made peace his principal aim as the latter did war; yet they resemble one another in the singular way of living to which they reduced their people -- in the astonishing ascendant they gained over freemen; and in the strong passions which they subdued."

Character of William Penn, by Edmund Burke...
"William Penn, as a legislator, deserves immortal thanks from the whole world. 'Tis pleasing to do honour to those great men whose virtues and generosity have contributed to the peopling of the earth, and to the freedom and happiness of mankind; and who have preferred the interest of a remote posterity and times unknown, to their own fortune, and to the quiet and security of their own lives."

In conformity to the Act of the congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also to an Act, entitled, "An Act Supplementary to an Act entitled, 'An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching, historical and other prints."
D. Caldwell, Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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