1798 — pp. 131 [i.e. 231]. Lacks two (of 4 or 5) leaves at the beginning. 12 mo. 170 mm. NOTE: Extensive early schoolboy ink doodles, scribbles, wipes, and names, including: William M. Watson; William P. Orbison, Huntingdon, PA (1814-1898); George Washington Gray (and his Sweetheart - Sarah Nicholson). The condition of the book is generally worn and aged, but some of the manuscript additions are worth a little attention. I especially like one from the author as a sort of receipt on p. 108. It says, "James Davidson to George W. Gray as a token of his affection not from any love to him but to have his half dollar. Philadelphia, May 5, 1806." The printer Charles Cist (1738-1805) was an entrepreneur of the first order. With Melchior Steiner, he established a printing and publishing business. During the American Revolution, he published many documents relating to current events, including Paine's The American Crisis. In 1781 the firm was dissolved, and Cist continued in business alone. He began the publication of The American Herald in 1784, and of the Columbian Magazine in 1786. Cist aided the colonial government during the revolution by endorsing large amounts of continental currency, which he was later compelled to redeem. He was the first person to introduce anthracite coal into general use in the United States. In 1792 he was a member of the Lehigh Coal Company, and brought several wagons full of this coal to Philadelphia, where he offered to give it away. But he could not dispose of it, and was threatened with mob violence for trying to impose on the people with a lot of black stones (coal). In 1793 he was secretary of the Fame Fire Association, and announced that the society had procured a fire-escape apparatus to save persons from burning houses by means of a bucket drawn up to the top of the building. During the administration of John Adams, he became public printer, and established an extensive printing office and book bindery in Washington, D.C., at great expense, for the purpose of publishing public documents. Evans 33604. PAIMP 6
