An Explanation of the Map of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia - 1774

4to. 24, [8], 23, [9] p. Recent marbled paper wrappers, printed label on upper wrapper. Title stained, lightly worn. Browning. FIRST EDITION. This pamphlet was published in conjunction with "Reed's Plan of First Purchasers," a large and now rare landownership map, documenting the "First Purchasers" of Pennsylvania. The text includes copies of the original abstracts of communications from William Penn to the "first adventurers and purchasers in Pennsylvania," abstracts of the charter of the city, reasons why the plan of the city was altered by Benjamin Eastburn, an alphabetical list of the first purchasers, and the courses, distances and dates of surveys of all the lots in the city of Philadelphia. Reed prepared this valuable document to bolster his family's claims to land in the Philadelphia area. Provenance: a succession of owners have signed the books, in this presumed order: "Andrew Cape His Book 1780 Market Street 10." — "Andrew Cape" and "Andrew Cape his book" likely a different hand — "John Smith" — "John Moyers" — "Return to J. J. Jones M.D. 1342 Arch St" — "Very rare complete valuable March 1869 this book [illeg.] $5.00." Pages 16 and 18 of the opening section contain extensive marginal notes, in an 18th-century hand, concerning transfer of property involving the names Nathaniel and Sarah Likens, among others. Evans 13564.