- Softcover
- Used
Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.Heritage Book Shop, ABAA
AbeBooks seller since March 25, 2008
Condition: Used
£ 5,820.94
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Catalogue of Subscribers. Boston: J. N. George, Manager, July 1st, 1880. First telephone directory of Boston. Octavo (9 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches; 233 x 148 mm). [40] pp. With two pages "Suggestions to Subscribers" and thirty-eight pages total of "Lists of Subscribers." The Boston Exchange is twenty-six pages, the Edison Exchange is nine pages and the Brookline Exchange is three pages. Advertisements printed along lower margins, and on verso of front wrapper and on both sides of back wrapper. We could find no other copies of this at auction in over 50 years, nor could we find any copies on OCLC. This is the earliest obtainable telephone directory at present. No other copies beside the present copy of any earlier telephone directories have been sold at auction since 2008. This directory was printed just a year and a half after the first ever directory was printed in New Haven, Connecticut on February 21, 1878. A copy of the New Haven directory (a later printing from November, 1878) sold at auction in 2008 for $170,500. Original printed green paper wrappers. Staple bound. Edges of wrappers chipped, but not affecting text. Wrappers have been coated with a protective tape to prevent further chipping. First leaf a bit toned and partially detached, but still holding. Some chipping and flaking to edges of leaves, not affecting text. Overall a very good copy of this rare item. The scarcity of this item can be factored by its fragility as well as the fact that they were supposed to be discarded regularly as there were new, updated versions printed every three months. "This Catalogue will be issued regularly hereafter, once in three months. Supplementary lists will be printed as new names are added, and sent to the subscribers." (From the Suggestions to Subscribers). Of the three exchanges listed in the copy, only the Boston exchange contains residential subscribers. The other two only contain business subscribers. Because this is the first telephone directory in Boston,there are instructions for placing phone calls in the "Suggestions to Subscribers." "Subscribers will, in all cases, use the numbers in calling for connections, giving their own number last, viz.: 785 with 436. Where no number appears, give name and address." The fact that this is the first telephone directory in Boston is particularly interesting as Boston is the home of Alexander Graham Bell, the commonly accepted inventor of the telephone. The first telephone lines were placed between Boston and Somerville, MA. "The Charles Williams, Jr. House located on Arlington Street, Somerville, is the location of the first residential telephone line. The phone inside the house connected to Mr. Williams' office at 109 Court Street in Boston, about 3 miles away. Most notably, 109 Court Street is where Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1875 and just one year later, uttered the lines to his assistant Thomas A. Watson, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you." (Atlas Obscura). HBS 68003. $7,500.…
Seller Inventory # 68003
Bibliographic details
- Title
- Telephone Despatch Company
- Author
- TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
- Publisher
- J. N. George, Manager, Boston
- Publication year
- 1880
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Illustrator
- TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
- Seller catalogs
- Americana, Science and Technology
Heritage Book Shop, ABAA
Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 15.07 | £ 30.14 |
Payment methods
Store description
Heritage Book Shop, founded in 1963 by Louis and Benjamin Weinstein, is an internationally renowned antiquarian book shop specializing in fine copies of rare books and first editions. Member ABAA / ILAB.
Specialty
Exploration, Voyages, Travel, Science, PMM, Illustrated books, Modern firsts and fine press, Illustrated and color plate books, Nineteenth-century literature, Early printed books in all fields, Fine leather-bound sets, Finely bound booksAssociation member
Seller's business information
Heritage Book Shop, LLC
324 South Beverly Drive, # 1421
Beverly Hills, CA U.S.A. 90212
Terms of sale
All items are offered subject to prior sale. All items are guaranteed as
described. We are willing to hold items for seven days. Any returns must be well packaged and sent in a traceable manner. Additional insurance is not required for a return shipment. We accept Visa, MasterCard as processed by AbeBooks, American Express, checks (in U.S. currency) and wire transfers. California residents please add appropriate sales tax. Payment in advance is required for first time clients. We can offer deferred billing to institutions. Shipping is not included in the book price. Minimum domestic ground shipping is $5.00, with larger orders at cost. International air and surface shipments at cost. Title to all material remains with Heritage Book Shop, Inc. until receipt of payment in full.
Heritage Book Shop, LLC
9024 Burton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
phone-310-659-3674
fax-310-659-4872
heritage@heritagebookshop.com
CA resale #- SR AS 101043172
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A., +1 310-659-3674, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.