It is a well-known historical fact, that, in consequence of the embargo laid upon American commerce during the Revolutionary War, the Bible became an exceeding scarce book. Mr. Robert Aitken, a patriotic printer and bookseller of this city, undertook at his private expense to supply the constant and urgent demand for the work, by publishing the edition that is now popularly known as "The Aitken Bible." The circumstances attending the publication of this edition, and the discouraging obstacles encountered by Mr. Aitken in accomplishing his laborious task, are vigorously described by an anonymous author of the following interesting article published in the "Freeman's Journal," for November 26, 1782: "I can hardly express the feelings I experienced when I found that a complete edition of the Holy Scriptures, in our vernacular tongue, has been printed amongst us. The circumstances attending this arduous task are so extraordinary that the faithful historian cannot fail to rank it, both in its design and execution, amongst the most remarkable civil events of the present Revolution, What may we not expect from the abilities of this country in respect to literary undertakings, when we consider that this design has been executed in the midst, as it were, of conflagration, murder, brutality, and a general destruction of the works of nature and art? "This Edition of the Holy Scriptures is the only one, that was ever undertaken in America at the expense of an individual, unless we except the German Bible, printed some years ago by Mr. Sower, at a time when this country enjoyed a profound peace, As to Mr. Eliot's Indian Bible,' printed many years ago in New England, it is well known that the whole expense was borne by the corporation for promoting the Gospel in New-England. How great then are the public indebted to Mr. Aitkin, who, at the most imminent risque of his private fortune, with very little support and patronage, and actuated by a generous zeal for the advancement of the moral interests of mankind, engaged solely in this very expensive and laborious task, What discouraging prospects for the completion of his work must the editor have had from time to time in the course of this cruel and desolating war?-More than twenty towns and villages of note have been made fuel for the flames which British inhumanity has kindled; the avarice of our enemies has plundered a much greater number; and no less than nine of the capital cities of these states have been in possession of the enemy; amongst them was Philadelphia, and yet, under all these disadvantages, a complete, an accurate, and elegant edition of the Bible was published in this very city, in four years from the time of the evacuation by the British. "The very paper that has received the impression of these sacred books, was manufactured in Pennsylvania, the whole work therefore, is Purely American, and has risen, like the fabled Phoenix, from the ashes of that pile in which our enemies supposed they had consumed the liberties of America." SEE FACSIMILE OF BOTH TITLES. 12 13 AITKEN'S PSALMS OF DAVID. In Metre. Allowed by the Authority of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, and appointed to be sung in Congregations and Families. With an Analysis, or brief view of the Contents of each Psalm. R. Aitken, Philadelphia, 1783 12mo, boards. Very rare. Not mentioned in O'Callaghan. A'KEMPIS, THOMAS. Of the Imitation of Christ. Translated by John Payne. Philadelphia, 1783 12mo, sheep. 14 15 16 17 18 19 Alexander, CAPTAIN J. E. Transatlantic Sketches, comprising Visits to the most Interesting Scenes in North and South America, and the West Indies. With Notes on Negro Slavery and Canadian Emigration. Philadelphia, 1833 8vo, boards, uncut. ALLEN'S (COL. ETHAN). A Narrative of, Captivity. Fourth Edition. 12mo, boards. ALLEN, WILLIAM. An American Biographical and Historical Dictionary, containing an Account of the Lives, Characters, and Writings of the most Eminent Persons in North America, from its first Discovery to the present times, and a Summary of the History of the Several Colonies. Portrait of Washington, by Edwin. 8vo, half morocco, uncut. Cambridge, 1807 This copy belonged to Ebenezer Hazard, first postmaster of the United States, and has his autograph on title. The work is very seldom found uncut. ALMANACS. A Collection of Philadelphia and Wilmington Almanacs between 1800 and 1842. Eighteen almanacs bound in 2 vols. 12mo, sheep. Some few of the almanacs are imperfect. ALMANACS. Warner's Almanac for 1817, Philadelphia. Clergyman's Almanack for 1817, Boston. The American Calendar; or the Columbian Almanac for 1817, Wilmington. Kite's Town and Country Almanac for 1817, Philadelphia, (with view of Centre Square). Warner's Almanac for 1818, Philadelphia. Bier's Almanac for 1818, New Haven. Poor Will's Almanac for 1818, Philadelphia. American Almanac for 1818, with Incidents of Naval Battles. Bound in I vol. 12mo, half bouna. ALMANACS FOR 1819. A Collection of. Including Warner's Almanac, Philadelphia; Warner's Virginia Almanac, Richmond; The Annual Visitor and Western Almanac, Philadelphia; The Annual Visitor or Citizen and Planters' Almanac, Charleston; The Agricultural Almanack, Philadelphia; The United States Almanac, Wilmington; The New St. Tammany Almanac, with View of Fairmount, Philadelphia; Bennett and Walton's Almanac, Philadelphia; Bailey's Rittenhouse Almanac, with Portrait of Tom Paine on Title, Philadelphia; The Pennsylvania and New Jersey Almanac, 20 21 Doylestown; Miner's Agricultural Almanac, Doylestown; The North-American Calendar, Wilmington; Wood's Almanac, New York. A rare collection. Bound in 1 vol. 12mo, half bound. AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. Translations and Collections of the. Vols. 1 to 6. Worcester and Cambridge, 1820 to 1874 3 vols., half morocco. I vol. cloth, uncut, ana 2 vols. paper, uncut. Containing Atwater's Antiquities of Ohio; Diaries of John Hull, First Minister of the Colony of Massachusetts: Wingfield's Discourse of Virginia; Josselyn's New England Rarities; Thomas' History of Printing, etc. AMERICAN CHAP-BOOKS. An Unique and Rare Collection, mostly Printed in the Early Part of the Last Century. Containing the following, Illustrated with Copperplate Engravings, viz: Various Modes of Catching. Philadelphia, N. D.Youthful Recreation. Philadelphia, N. D.--Little Truths Better than Great Fables. 2 vols. Philadelphia, 1800.Hays' Stories for Children. Vol. 7. Philadelphia, 1812.--The Black-Bird's Nest: A Tale. Philadelphia, 1812.-The Pocket Farmer. Philadelphia, 1807.-The Second and Third Chapter of Accidents. Philadelphia, 1807.-The Tame Goldfinch. Philadelphia, 1808.-Old Dame Margery's Hush-ABye. Philadelphia, 1814.-The Tragi-Comic History of the Burial of Cock-Robin, with the Lamentations of Jenny Wren. Philadelphia, 1821.--Think Before You Speak. Philadelphia, 1810.- Watt's Divine Songs for Children. Philadelphia, 1807.-The Daisy; or, Cautionary Stories in Verse for Children. Part I. Philadelphia, 1808.- Keeper's Travels in Search of his Master. Philadelphia, 1808.-Original Poems, by Adelaide. Vol. 2. Philadelphia, 1821. Little Emma and her Father, by Miss Horwood (colored). Philadelphia, N. D. The Council of Dogs. Philadelphia, 1809.---The History of Little Fanny. Philadelphia, 1825.-Simple Ballads. Philadelphia, 1811.-The Search after Happiness. Philadelphia, 1811.-The Gamut and the Time Table (colored). Philadelphia, 1824.-Little Truths. Vol. 2. Philadelphia, 1812.-The Uncle's Present, a True Battledoor. Philadelphia, N. D.-A Drawing Book of Landscapes. Philadelphia, 1810. The following illustrated with wood engravings. Viz:The Parlour Spelling Book. Philadelphia, 1809.--Dame Partlet's Farm. Philadelphia, 1819.-The Children in the Wood, by Clara English. Philadelphia, 1813.The Prize for Youthful Obedience. 2 vols. Philadelphia, |