Subject: Bookselling

A broadside advertisement from Abrams & Co., dated 1870, soliciting agents, particularly women, to sell books in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The advertisement was located at 31 Wistar Street and suggests a potentially dubious business scheme. The broadside is printed in English.

CVD - Circa 1870 Man Holding Open Book by Philp & Solomons, 332 Penn Ave, Washington DC. ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE RED CROSS; Philp & Solomons (1859-1874) was a publishing and bookstore partnership in Washington, D.C. The partners were bookseller Franklin Philp (1826-1887), who handled visual materials, and Adolphus S. Solomons (1826-1910), who had responsibility for the textual materials. Solomons helped to establish the American Red Cross and was the founder of the Jewish Protectory and Aid Society and the Russian Jews Immigration Aid Society. Philp was born in England and entertained visiting English celebrities at his home in Washington. According to one report, Philp overdrew the partnership account by $90,000 and left Solomons greatly embarrassed. Philp later became notorious for embezzling funds from his position as a clerk to the naval pay inspector at San Francisco, California.

One-page letter from W. B. Simmons in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated February 3, 1848. Simmons discusses ordering matzos and themurim from James Henry in New York City and the sale of Leeser's books. A postscript mentions Charleston's interest in obtaining books.

Book titled "The Messiah, attempted from the German of Mr. Klopstock," printed by George Forman for Benjamin Gomez in 1795. Benjamin Gomez (1769-1828) was a prominent Jewish bookseller in New York, the first of his kind. He published over 20 titles, including works of Jewish interest such as the first American printing of Letters to Dr. [Joseph] Priestley. He was involved in publishing, selling, and binding books until 1802, later becoming treasurer and president of Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in New York City.

Book - The Schoolmaster's Assistant, printed in New York City in 1796 for Naphtali Judah and B. Gomez. Printed by Mott & Lyon. This copy includes a full-page advertisement for Gomez & Judah. Benjamin Gomez (1769-1828) was a prominent Jewish bookseller and publisher, considered the earliest in the USA. He published over 20 titles, including works of Jewish interest and general works such as editions of Pilgrim's Progress and Cook's Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. He was also involved in other businesses, including lottery tickets, groceries and tobacco, later becoming treasurer and president of Shearith Israel synagogue in New York City.