Description:

Edited by Thomas Paine, Four Disbound Issues of "The Pennsylvania Magazine" 1775-1776

A group of four disbound issues of "The Pennsylvania Magazine", all 8vo., measuring approximately 5" x 8". Philadelphia; R. Aitken, 1775-1776. All edited by Thomas Paine and including a great deal of Revolutionary War political and military content, along with general editorials, news, and poetical essays. All with an illustrated title page, but with some missing additional illustrations. As mentioned, the magazines have been disbound, with one having been completely unbound. A few issues are missing numerous pages. Lacking wrapper, with worn and chipped edges. Varying degrees of toning, foxing, and staining. One issue has a moderate amount of paper loss at the lower left corner of the first two pages. A fantastic group dating from the beginning of the American Revolution, including the following issues:

July 1775, pp. [4], 296-338, with a pagination error on page 336. Containing articles "Account of the Battle at Ticonderoga last War" and "Thoughts on Defensive War". Missing the plate of "The Town of Boston, and American Camp". The defensive war article reads in part: "…The portrait of a parent red with the blood of her children is a picture fit only for the galleries of the infernals. From the House of Commons the troops of Britain have been exhorted to fight, not for the defence of their natural rights, not to repel the invasion or the insult of enemies; but on the vilest of all pretences, gold…"

January 1776, pp. 9-40, missing pages 41-52. Containing articles on the “Computations of the Extent of, and Number of Inhabitants in, the several Kingdoms and States of Europe” and “Reflections on the New Year,”. The article, “The Dying Negro: an Epistle from a Black to his intended wife”, has been identified as having been written by Paine himself and was published around the same time as "Common Sense". Included is an illustrated plate "Representation of a Furnace for obtaining Sulphur by Distillation." Missing plate is “An easy Method of Distilling Fresh water from Salt water at Sea .” The missing pages contain content on Benedict Arnold’s failed American attack on Canada, America’s chief medical officer Dr. Benjamin Church’s treason, and an account of the burning of Norfolk, Virginia.

February 1776, pp. [2], 57-67, 64-104 (unusual pagination). This issue includes "Method of Manufacturing Gun-Powder," an illustrated plate and article on sign language titled "Dumb Speech, or the Art of Conversing by the Fingers Only," and "General Schuyler's Account of his Expedition to Tryon County."

March 1776, [4] 109-150. With an article entitled "Scheme for taxing the Colonies in the year 1754", reading in part: "As some people still affect to believe that the present important and bloody contest between Great Britain and the Colonies, is only founded in Pride on the one part, and Obstinacy on the other; you are requested to give the following account a place in your Magazine, which will show that the design of subjugation the colonies to British taxation was laid and attempted much earlier than is generally imagined…" Both illustrated plates included: "A Plan of a Salt Marsh" and "A Perspective View of the Salt Works at Salisbury".

"The Pennsylvania Magazine" was first conceived by Robert Aitken, best known for his work as a printer for the Continental Congress. Aitken founded and launched the periodical himself, but soon found it too difficult to manage by himself. As a result, he hired newly arrived Thomas Paine as Editor at £50 a year. Paine had only arrived in America a few months before, in December 1774, but quickly became a major contributor to the periodical as well as editor.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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