1835 — pp. [16](Advertisements), 199, [13] (Important governmental, financial, and insurance institutions); ix, 36 (Will of Stephen Girard), [4] (Testimonial letters for Swaim's Panacea, a patent medicine). The first group of advertisements are printed in blue ink, in a large variety of decorative display type, accompanied with a few interesting woodcut illustrations. 8vo. 225 mm. Juniata Library bookplate (withdrawn). Original printed boards binding, with an advertisement for Desilver on the rear board. Leather spine deteriorated; front board almost detached. Age stain to text. Printed on the front cover: 'Note to Borrowers. In consequence of the numerous applications at the store of the publisher to borrow the directory, and as he has been at great expense and trouble to compile it for the accommodation of the public, he has come to the determination of CHARGING SIX CENTS for every search. Purchasers are earnestly requested not to loan their books.' On the title page is the autograph ownership of: 'Francis Shoemaker, 51 S. Wharves.' He was a merchant with an extensive trade in Cuba, and the Caribbean, and is listed in the Directory. Text printed in two columns. It includes: the names of the citizens alphabetically arranged, with their occupations and places of abode; a list of the streets, alleys, lanes, courts, roads and wharves, banks, insurance companies; national and their societies, literary, scientific and charitable institutions; Custom House Department, Post Office, churches with their pastors and sextons, foreign, consular and other agents, resident abroad and in the United States, &c. There is also a chart of Regulations (for the ringing) of the State House Bell in Case of Fire. Many examples of this directory includes an Almanac, but here that is replaced by: The Will of the Late Stephen Girard, Esq Procured from the Office for the Probate of Wills, with a Short Biography of his Life. Philadelphia: Published by Thomas and Robert Desilver 1832. The controversy over the Will of Stephen Girard (1750-1831) was of great interest in this era. His large estate was divided - with $140,000 given to relatives and charities; $300,000 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania "for internal improvement by canal navigation"; his real estate in Louisiana (208,000 acres) he left to New Orleans; $500,000 he left to Philadelphia to create Delaware Avenue, clean up the waterfront, pave, remove all wooden buildings and other projects to improve the city. The bulk of his estate was left to create what became Girard College, to educate the poor white orphan boys with a trade. His will gives instructions about the College, both physical and administrative. Some of Girard's heirs contested the will in what became a "classic in American legal history, contributing not a little to the clarification of the law of charities" (DAB). Robert Desilver was an entrepreneurial Philadelphia publisher who became famous for his maps, directories, and almanacs. S&S/AI 33704 & S&S/AI 12613; Spear. p. 282. **PRICE JUST REDUCED! JUN5 Box 5
