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Rare American magazine with the Battle of Bunker Hill & Washington's appointment as Commander-in-Chief...
Rare American magazine with the Battle of Bunker Hill & Washington's appointment as Commander-in-Chief...
Item # 611026
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June 01, 1775
THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, Philadelphia, June, 1775 This is a very rare magazine, published only from January, 1775 thru July, 1776, containing the Declaration of Independence in its final issue. It was the only American magazine to print the Declaration, in fact it was the only American magazine ever printed in 1776. In the entirely of the Revolutionary War only two American magazine titles existed, they being this one and the "United States Magazine" which published in Philadelphia as well, and it only ran from January thru December, 1779.
Thomas Paine was the editor of this magazine from the February, 1775 issue through at least the May, 1776 issue. There is some doubt as to his involvement in the last two issues. Many of his contributions are signed: "A.B." but many are not.
As if the rarity & Thomas Paine editorship was not sufficient, the content is rather extraordinary as well. Near the back is the "Monthly Intelligence" as was typical with magazine format, and beneath: "Philadelphia" is: "Appointments by the Hon. Continental Congress: George Washington, Esq: of Virginia, General and Commander in Chief of all the American forces..." and other appointments. Also mention of Washington making some appointments under him (see). Plus, there is also a very nice account of the Battle of Bunker Hill, headed: "The Following is the most circumstantial account of the engagement on Bunker's or Breeds Hill" being a letter from: "...Isaac Lathrop, one of the Provincial Congress at Watertown" dated June 22, 1775, in which he beings: "Before this reaches you, you will doubtless hear of the engagement of last Saturday between our troops and those of the army at Boston; but lest you should not be well informed, I will now undertake to give you as regular an account as can at present be obtained..." and what follows are the details of the battle, one portion including: " ...Last Friday evening, a detachment from the camp at Cambridge marched to Charlestown, and there took possession of Breeds-Hill…about two o’clock, when a large army of between four and five thousand men…under the command of General Howe landed on the back of the hill, and marched up with great seeming resolution towards our lines; our men reserved their fire till the enemy had advance very near, when a general engagement ensued; the fire from our lines was so excessive heavy, and made such a terrible slaughter as obliged the enemy twice to give way…”(see).
What follows is a eulogy on the death of General Warren who was killed in the action at Bunker Hill, it carrying over to take most of two pages.
Not only a very rare American magazine, but one with great content as well. Complete in 56 pages plus the full title/contents page which features a very nice engraving. The plate is lacking. Measures 5 by 8 1/4 inches, browning/staining to a lower corner of the first several leaves but causing no loss of readability, otherwise scattered foxing & a few stray ink marks, generally nice condition.
Category: Revolutionary War
No Longer Available
