Sketch of St. Anthony and Minneapolis, Minnesota Territory
St. Anthony: William W. Wales, Bookseller and Publisher; Minneapolis: Thomas Hale Williams, 1857. Only edition, 12mo, pp. 32, [4] ads; full-p. map of Lake Minnetonka, 7 wood-engraved illustrations in the text (5 full-p.); 1" x 2" chip to corner of upper wrapper, otherwise a near fine copy in original printed wrappers. Printed in New York by Daniel Ader, 211 Center St. A wonderful little early guide to the city of what is now collectively Minneapolis, touting the business climate and commercial opportunities, quality of education, future prospects, etc., together with a historical sketch of the metropolis. The publisher, William Wales, was the first Quaker to settle in Minnesota, and induced others of the sect to emigrate here. He was active in the Quaker community and was a bookseller and stationer in St. Anthony. Thomas Hale Williams, also of Minneapolis was the founder of the Minneapolis Athenaeum in 1859 "which finally became part of the Minneapolis Public Library, [where] he served twenty years as librarian, treasurer, and director, without compensation. He called a meeting of librarians in Philadelphia in 1876, at which the American Library Association was formed" (Upham & Dunlap, Minnesota Biographies). Howes S22; Sabin 74998. Item #21532
Price: $450.00
