Saint Paul City Directory for 1856-7.

Item #48240

(MINNESOTA). (SAINT PAUL). Saint Paul City Directory for 1856-7. Saint Paul: Goodrich & Sommers, 1857. viii, 194, [5]pp. including in-text illustrations, and ads printed on yellow, pink, green, and blue paper, plus folding map, 23 1/2 x 26 1/2 inches. 12mo. Original half roan and printed paper boards, spine gilt. Paper in upper portion of boards chipped, most heavily on rear board. Dampstain in lower corner of first twenty-five pages. Map neatly torn along bound-in edge, far-away from the image. Good. HOWES S40, "aa." OCLC 3411744. SPEAR, p.333. All(MINNESOTA) 175. The present copy bears the contemporary ownership of Fayette J. Irvine, who though not specifically named in the directory was likely a member of the family of prominent realtors or merchants who are included within. The first Saint Paul city directory. A business directory was published for Saint Paul the preceding year by Goodrich & Sommers, but this city directory more than doubles the earlier effort in number of pages, adding a directory of the residents of the city (likely the heads of households only), their occupations and addresses. The contents include a brief history of Saint Paul, descriptions of governmental offices and officials, lists of important businesses, information regarding territorial post offices, and lists of fraternal organizations and their officers, including the Masons and the Knights Templar. There are dozens of pages of advertisements, printed on colored paper, for all sorts of Saint Paul busnesses, as well as an index to the advertisers. The fine map, which is often lacking, shows the growing downtown area of Saint Paul in great detail. Streets are identified, and the owners of undeveloped lands are named. The map is surrounded by a number of small engravings of prominent buildings and residences, including the territorial capitol, courthouse, and a scene along the lower levee of the Mississippi River. Spear, All, and OCLC together locate only seven copies of this directory. Scarce.

Price: $2,250.00