Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-01
FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN NEW JERSEY
BY IL. e. -PICKERSGILI

/ that is making the lines longer. Mr..
Nelson suggests that, after finishing
the Perth Amboy book, Bradford
found that he was short of paper to
complete the number of copies he
had planned for the New York issue
and for that reason reset more than
a quarter of the entire work.
An investigation which has not yet
been completed shows that the cata-
loguer who said but one other copy
known" was either very careless
about the truth or he had made
practically no research. Vice Chan
cellor Eugene Stevenson, of Pater-
son, has a copy in his magnificent
collection of New Jersey laws and
associated subjects. The State
Library at Trenton has copies OF
both the Perth Amboy and New
York issues. The Prudential Law
Library has the third copy of the
book which would justify a real BIZ
centennial in Perth Amboy this
month.
While the New Jersey Historical
Society has no copy, in which re-
spect it is on a par with the great
New York Public Library, it is uh-
derstood that the New York Histori-
cal Society has one and that there
is another library in New York
equally fortunate.
The indications are that perhaps
ten or a dozen copies will be located,
instead of one, but all referred to
are in libraries and the private in
dividual who has the good fortune to
own one is to be envied.
The r~anrodioffon of fba titIn M oe
used herewith is made from the copy
in the Tower collection in the care
of the Pennsylvania Historical Soci-
ETY., made especially to accompany
this article. The book, in size, is
what is termed a folio. The actual
measurement of the type of the title
page is five and one-half inches wide
by nine and a quarter inches high
and the paper is about two inches
larger each way.
From the year of his printing in
Perth Amboy to 1927, Bradford did
the New Jersey printing in New
York. Then, in 1928, Samuel Keimer
a Philadelphia printer for whom
Benjamin Franklin worked imme-
diately after his trip from Boston Il
the Quaker City, via Perth Amboy
took a press and some type to Burl-
ington and there printed a volume o.
laws. This is even more scarce thar
the Perth Amboy Bradford, for only
two copies have been located, one o.
which, most fortunately, is in thu
State Library at Trenton.
Widespread interest has beer
manifested in the possibility of 6
fitting celebration of the Perth Am.
boy Bradford's bicentennial which il
was thought would be held in thi.
city. The matter was brought VI
months ago and official sanction ant
aid promised by those qualified to de-
so. 1t was even understood that
committee to arrange for at least &
meeting of some sort to make thi:
important event in the history o.
New Jersey and of the country, bu.
nothing has been heard of it il
months. Inquiries as to what we are
doing locally are heard very fire.
quently and with heavy hearts tn,
few really interested in the subjec
tried to evade them, hoping tina
even at this late hour the city will
not allow this important bieentenar,
to pass unnoticed.
The two portraits by John Watson
mentioned recently in this column a
listed in n Heartman auction cata
logue, were duly sold to r. Friden
berg, a New York dealer in picture
and prints. who has the only othe
known Watson canvas-one that |
signed and dated by the artist. Atte
the sale, the buyer explained hov
he knew the two Hartman picture
to be genuine, but, of course. 1t wa
then too late to do those who wer
in doubt about their ge~nuineness an,
good, Mr.. ~Fridenberg secured tn
pair for $500. about a third of thei
value when 1t is known that Their
Is no doubt as to their origin.