THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE: OR, AMERICAN MONTHLY MUSEUM. MDCCLXXV. VOLUME 1 [JANUARY 1775 TO DECEMBER 1775]

[Pennsylvania Magazine]: [Paine, Thomas, editor]

Published by Robert Aitken, Philadelphia, 1775

About this Item

Twelve issues and one supplement, a complete run of the first year. 625,[5]pp., including title signature and the supplement, plus fifteen plates (plate of Charlestown lacking half). Without a leaf numbered 285-286, but the text uninterrupted and evidently complete (apparently a mis-pagination at the time of printing). Contemporary calf; rebacked, preserving part of the original spine. Boards rubbed, neatly repaired at corners, "F. Bailey's" stamped in blind on each board. With the inscription, in a neat contemporary hand, "Ready money for clean Linen Rags By the Printer hereof," on the front flyleaf. Bookplate of the Library Company of Philadelphia, with early discard stamp, on front pastedown. Light foxing, soiling, and tanning to text. Half of the plan of Charlestown lacking. Overall, almost very good. A run of the first twelve issues and the 1775 supplement of THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE., the only magazine issued in the American colonies for most of the crucial year of 1775. This copy belonged to Revolutionary- era printer Francis Bailey of Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In the latter location Bailey was the printer of the first edition of the Articles of Confederation. THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE is among the most important American Revolutionary-era publications for two primary reasons. First, it was edited from February to July 1775 by the famous radical, Thomas Paine, and his regular occupation, as he was developing COMMON SENSE, was as its editor. Secondly, it contains some of the most significant maps produced in America during the Revolution, including battle plans that became prototypes for oft-reproduced illustrations. Only a small handful of similar maps were produced in America during the Revolution. Ristow describes three of the maps and plans (numbers 8, 9, and 10, below) as "the earliest revolutionary war maps printed in America." The present collection contains the first twelve of the total nineteen issues of THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, a complete run for the year 1775. THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE was conceived and founded by the Revolutionary printer, Robert Aitken, best known for his work as a printer for the Continental Congress. Aitken launched the periodical himself, but soon found it too much work and hired Paine as editor at £50 a year. Paine had only arrived in America a few months before, in December 1774. He quickly became the major contributor as well as editor, sometimes writing under the initials "A.B." and sometimes with no by-line. "These initials he affixed to descriptions of mechanical devices, anecdotes, Addisonian essays, argumentative papers, and poems in some variety.the most imaginative and literary of the pieces have never been reprinted. "Published on the eve of the American Revolution, and edited by one of the leading Revolutionary publicists, THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE is, of course, of paramount political interest.in December the magazine published 'Reflections on the Duty of Princes,' in which sovereigns are sharply warned against the exercise of arbitrary power. This is signed 'A.' and is followed by an oratorical passage 'On Liberty' signed 'Philo-Libertas.' Both are in the accents of Paine." - Mott. Mott also particularly mentions Paine's famous "Liberty Tree" article in July 1775, Phillis Wheatley's verses to Washington of April 1776, and Paine's article on the abuse of texts in the supplementary number for 1775. Paine also contributed much that was not political, and there are many articles on current events in that fast-moving period which may or may not come from his pen; however, writing for this magazine (often, it was said, under the influence of drink) was Paine's primary work during this period, and all told a substantial part of each issue sprang from his genius, until his break with Aitken in July 1775. The magazine chronicles, month by month, Paine's sentiments before writing COMMON SENSE, which was published in mid- January 1776. Many of the important maps and. Seller Inventory # WRCAM46863

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE: OR, AMERICAN ...

Publisher: Robert Aitken, Philadelphia

Publication Date: 1775