Law, William
An Extract from a Treatise by William Law, M.A. Called, The Spirit of Prayer...
Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, 1760. 8vo. 47 pp. Ownership signature on title-page of Quaker abolitionist Anthony Benezet, additionally inscribed on same, "for Benjamin Feild", likely in another hand. Inscribed by Field on front free endpaper, "Benjamin Field his Book April th 22 Day 1767", further inscribed below, "Mary Field Her Book Give to Her By her Father Benjamin Field". Additionally signed on front paste-down "Benj. Feild", and with additional inscriptions on rear endpapers of Benjamin, Joseph, and May Field. Three-quarter contemporary tan calf over drab paper-covered boards, front board detached but holding by one band, large losses along spine, boards and extremities rubbed and worn; all edges trimmed; old cataloguer's pencil notes on front paste-down; Benezet's signature crossed out on title-page, but legible; edges of first three leaves lightly worn and chipped; text leaves toned, scattered spotting to same; light dampstaining in bottom edge. Miller 731; Evans 8633; Hildeburn 1681; Sabin 39324

Bound with:

Hartley, Thomas
A Discourse on Mistakes concerning Religion, Enthusiasm, Experiences, &c.
London: London Printed. Germantown reprinted by Christopher Sower, 1759. 71, (i) pp. Light dampstaining in bottom edge; sheets toned, scattered spotting. Evans 8364; Sabin 30696; Hildeburn 1628

Bound with:

Dell, William
Christ's Spirit, A Christian's Strength...
Germantown: Printed by Christopher Sower, 1760. (ii), (75)-168 pp. (continuous pagination with the above). Sheets toned; scattered spotting to text; stain at bottom of most leaves, heavier from pp. 121-124; closed tear, bottom edge (I)5. Evans 8364; Sabin 19437; Hildeburn 1667

Bound with:

(Benezet, Anthony)
A Short Account of that Part of Africa, Inhabited by the Negroes...
Philadelphia: Printed by W. Dunlap, 1762. The Second Edition, with large Additions and Amendments. 80 pp. Large closed tear in fore-edge D2 and D3, loss at top of D4, all affecting text; text leaves toned, spotting to same. Evans 9067; Sabin 4687; Hildeburn 1786

An unsophisticated copy of four works from three prominent colonial Philadelphia and Philadelphia-area printers: Benjamin Franklin, who needs no introduction; Christopher Sower, the younger, who like his father (the first German-language printer in America), was a successful German and English-language printer operating out of Germantown; and William Dunlap, former partner of Franklin's and uncle of John Dunlap, printer of the Declaration of Independence. Signed by Quaker abolitionist Anthony Benezet. It is presumed that this Benjamin Field is the same Quaker Benjamin Field that was a resident of Burlington, New Jersey and Minister in the Burlington Quarterly Meeting, in 1767, alongside Benezet.

Anthony Benezet (1713-1784) was a French-born Quaker who immigrated to America in 1731, and settled near Philadelphia. At the age of 18, he began preaching on the inconsistencies of practicing a Christian faith while simultaneously owning slaves. After failing as a merchant he became an educator, teaching at a number of different schools, and eventually held classes at night for African Americans, who were not permitted during the day. In 1755 Benezet established his own public school, solely for girls, the first of its kind in America. In 1775 he was a founder of the Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, one of the world's first anti-slavery societies, later reconstituted by Benjamin Franklin after Benezet's death as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery.