Printed and Manuscript Americana

(Philadelphia: Printed by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall), 1764. First edition. 8vo. 31 pp. Full crushed navy blue levant, stamped in gilt; all edges trimmed; by Bradstreet's; gilt morocco book-plate of Henry F. De Puy on front paste-down; title-page slightly toned, scattered spotting and soiling to same, larger stain at bottom; scattered spotting to text. ESTC W17009; Evans 9667; Field 1116; Ford 272; Hildeburn 1992; Howes F-327; Miller 807; Sabin 25557; Streeter Sale 2:968; Vail 556; Reese, The Struggle for North America 63

A near-fine first edition of "one of the rarest of works relating to the history of Pennsylvania," (Field) and one of the most important of the Paxton Boy pamphlets.

On December 14, 1763 a band of Scots-Irish frontiersmen, known as the Paxton Boys, attacked the small tribe of Conestoga Indians, killing six and burning their dwellings. The atrocity was condemned by Pennsylvania Governor John Penn, who put the remaining Conestoga in protective custody, and called for the capture of the vigilantes. The Paxton Boys retaliated by attacking the quarters where the Conestoga were being protected, maiming, scalping, and killing 14 men, women, and children. The current pamphlet was written by Franklin to condemn these attacks as unchristian and to calm many of the colony's inhabitants who flocked to aid the Paxton Boys, who were then en route to Philadelphia to confront the government. "Franklin's condemnation of the murders and eloquent analysis of the situation helped to calm the inhabitants, thereby averting a battle in Philadelphia between the Paxton Boys and their supporters, and British troops who were charged with protecting over one hundred other Indians on Province Island." (Reese) Following the cessation of hostilities, Franklin wrote, in a letter dated February 11, 1764, "It would perhaps be Vanity in me to imagine so slight a thing could have any Extraordinary Effect. But however that may be, there was a sudden and very remarkable Change; and above 1,000 Citizens took Arms to support the Government in the Protection of those poor Wretches."

One of the rarest and most emotional works penned by Franklin.

Rare to auction, according to RBH, this is the first copy to be offered since 2010.