Lot 507
Northern Liberties Fire Company No. 1 Meeting Book. A voluminous book of over 500 handwritten pages, being the meetings record book of the famous Philadelphia "Northern Liberties Fire Company No. 1," a historic company founded May 1, 1756. This book covers June 7, 1842-June 17, 1853. Brown leather over original paper boards, with separation at the spine ends; light internal spotting, but overall very fine and easy to read. These pages include references to the fires that had to be extinguished because of the terrible "Know-Nothing," anti-Irish immigration riots in Philadelphia in the 1840s.
The first part of the book contains the Constitution of the fire company, a complete list of names and addresses of members, and a secondary list, signed in their own handwriting; also, the names and addresses of the actual fire fighters of the company, listing 222 members. Numerous, fascinating entries, including printed, paper inserts. One pen entry discusses the grand parades that were held by the different fire companies of the city.
The most fascinating entry, dated January 6, 1852, is quoted from a Boston newspaper report of The Northern Liberties Fire Company's visit to Boston. It describes the beautiful fire engine: "The Engine which this company beings is entirely new and is a most magnificent specimen of Philadelphia mechanism. It was housed last Saturday. Its main material is black polished wood literally overlaid with gold, silver and bronze ornaments and is said to have cost $4,000.00. It is large, as is usual with Philadelphia Engines, has its chambers and works in a square upright case in the center. On the top of this are four silver plates supported at the corners by four golden Eagles--the side plates bearing the inscription "Northern Liberty" and the rear plates 'Not theory But Practice.' Beneath each plate is a niche of silver…which stands a figure of Liberty, holding in her right hand the cap and staff of Libery, her left arm supports a medallion portrait of Washington….On the rear is a female figure with her arm around an Eagle the emblem of America, and on the front a magnificent painting of 'French Liberty'…." The rest of the description goes on for four more pages, covering the visit of the Fire Company to Boston. A wonderful, one-of-a-kind Fire Company book.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
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