William Sewel, 1728; the first work from Ben Franklin's new press

FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790) – SEWEL, William (1653-1720). The History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress, of the Christian People called Quakers: Intermixed with Several Remarkable Occurrences. Philadelphia: Samuel Keimer, 1728.

First American edition of Sewel's history of the Quakers, partially printed by Benjamin Franklin—the first project of his new press. First published in Amsterdam in the Dutch language in 1717, an English translation was soon made for the author. Andrew Bradford proposed an American edition in 1723, underwritten by Philadelphia Quakers. There was some confusion, and the Overseers ended up hiring Samuel Keimer to do the printing, while at the same time, Bradford sent out to London for the edition. There were hurt feelings all around. What ended up being the second overall London edition came out in 1725. The present edition is the one commissioned from Keimer, who finished only with the assistance of Ben Franklin, who had previously been Keimer's foreman. Franklin relates the story in his autobiography. This copy was owned by many generations of the Hooton family (perhaps some relation of Quaker preacher Elizabeth Hooton?), with series of gift inscriptions and notes, mostly between women, beginning in 1750 and ending with Francis Barton Gummere in 1936. Miller 1.

Folio (282 x 174mm). (Browning, title page a little chipped, last leaf repaired at gutter.) Near contemporary calf (rebacked preserving spine panel and endpapers). Provenance: Hannah Hooton (inscription noting gift from her mother Rebecca Mead in 1750; by descent to her great grandaughter:) – Susan Hooton Barton (ownership inscription and note of gift to her daughter:) – Elizabeth Barton Gummere (note of gift to her son:) – Francis Barton Gummere, 1855-1919, American folklore scholar and husband of Quaker scholar Amelia Mott (note of gift to his grandson:) – Francis Barton Gummere III (inscription).