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Octavo, [i]-xxxii ads, 480 pages, xxxiii-[lxiv]. In Very Good minus condition. Bound in quarter embossed cloth, first and last page of ads pasted onto front and rear cover. Spine black with gilt lettering, Cloth at head and tail missing, upper part of spine re-glued on. Small water-stain to top edge of text block from title page through page 32. With the ink name of G. A. Gideon, 468 Seventh St. to front cover. "Gideon Geo. S., printer and binder, 511 9th west, h. 468 7th west" is listed on page 125. Extremely scarce. Shelved case 1. Bryan, W.B. Bib. of the District of Columbia: page 60. OCLC: 191708880, with one copy at the University of Illinois. None in Copac or the LC. Possibly related to Ten Eyck's Washington and Georgetown directory, 1855, which follows a similar format and was also published by Polkinhorn. In the Preface, it is stated that: "we, however, are in the Directory business entirely. have a system adopted, and the facilities for accomplishing the work with thoroughness and care." Directly below in compares the number of names in the 1855 and 1858 directories, lending credence to a relationship. The number of names has nearly doubled in three years, from 8,660 to 15,152. Henry Polkinhorn was the regular printer for Ford's playbills, including the playbill on April 14th, 1865. Organized alphabetically, it contains a Washington Directory, a Georgetown Directory, a Business Directory (by profession), a Congressional Directory, and a Executive Branch Directory. In addition, it contains an Appendix of the city, including the City Government, schools, courts, military (including fire companies), Foreign Ministers, banks, insurance companies, societies and institutions, libraries, asylums, clubs, cemeteries, odd-fellows and masons, "Red Men," churches (including one "Jews' Synagogue," and "Colored Churches"), traveling routes, the Smithsonian, jails, bands, telegraphs, and post offices. George Gideon, as well as his father, established the printing company of J. & G. S. Gideon. They held the contract to print the Official Registers of the United States from 1843 to 1851. During the administration of President Fillmore he published the Republic, the President's official organ. He later served as president of the Washington and Georgetown Railroad from 1862 to 1866. A prominent DC businessman, he did business a number of high-profile Washingtonians including Daniel Webster (whose payment was unpaid upon his death.). 1377756. Shelved Dupont Bookstore. Seller Inventory # 1377756
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