A collection of six promotional pamphlets and progress reports issued by various agencies associated with Bessemer City, Alabama, or its industries, shortly after its incorporation in late 1887, as described individually below.
Bessemer City, Alabama, and New York: 1889-1890. The collection: (1) "The Facts of Bessemer, Alabama, Some Information Concerning the City of Bessemer: The Section in which It Is Located, the Natural Resources of That Section, Its Climate Conditions, Its Transportation Facilities, the Opportunities for Capital and Industry." Bessemer, AL: Bessemer Printing and Publishing Co., 1888. First edition. 8vo. 32 pp. Illustrated from wood engravings, maps, one folding. Issued by the Bessemer Land and Improvement Company. OCLC locates one copy (Alabama Archives & History). Original printed tan wrappers (front wrapper detached). Still a good copy. (2) "Mining and Manufacturing Resources of Bessemer in the Heart of Mineral Alabama, Founded 1887" [cover title]. Bessemer City, AL: Bessemer Land and Improvement Co. (Printed Lucas & Richardson, Charleston), (1889). First edition (?). 8vo. 52 pp. Illustrated from wood engravings, plates. Detailed promotional covering all aspects of commercial, agricultural, and manufacturing possibilities, with views of public and private building, values for existing businesses and infrastructure, and discussion of prospects for the future. Apparently not recorded on OCLC. Original cream wrappers (somewhat darkened), printed in red. Very good. (3) "Information about Bessemer, Alabama." Charleston, SC: Lucas and Richardson, Printers & Engravers, (1889). First edition under this title. 8vo. 46 pp. Illustrated from wood engravings, plates, maps, one large folding. Detailed promotional covering all aspects of commercial, agricultural, and manufacturing possibilities, with views of public and private building, values for existing businesses and infrastructure, and discussion of prospects for the future. Cover title: "Mining and Manufacturing Advantages at Bessemer in the Heart of Alabama." OCLC locates two copies (Duke, Wisconsin Historical Society). Original decorated cream wrappers, printed in red and blue (a little adhesion to upper front wrapper, some wear at extremities). Very good. (4) "A Circular of Information about Bessemer City, Alabama." New York: South Publishing Co., Printers & Engravers, July 1 1889. First edition under this title. 8vo. 46 pp. Illustrated from wood engravings, plates, maps, two large folding. Detailed promotional covering all aspects of commercial, agricultural, and manufacturing possibilities, with views of public and private building, values for existing businesses and infrastructure, and discussion of prospects for the future. OCLC locates nine copies (Columbia, New York Public, Birmingham/Jefferson County Public, Samford, Alabama, Delaware, Duke, Memphis, Virginia State Library). Original decorated cream wrappers, printed in red and green (a little wear to the extremities, but a very good unopened copy. (5) HARDING, W.P.G. "Bessemer: Its Resources and Advantages as a Manufacturing Center: Prize Essay." (Bessemer, AL: Bessemer Printing and Publishing Co., 1890). First edition 8vo. (15) pp. Includes a list of the industrial enterprises of the city. OCLC locates three copies (New York Public, Alabama Archives & History, Alabama). Original printed gray-green wrappers (a little chipped at the edges). Very good. (6) "Third Annual Report of the Bessemer Land & Improvement Company, April 3d, 1890." Bessemer, AL: Bessemer Printing and Publishing Co., 1890. 8vo. (15) pp. Detailed report on the company's finances and outlook for the future. For this company, OCLC records the charter and by-laws as issued in 1889, but no annual reports (that we were able to find). Alabama bibliographer Thomas Owen's copy, with his library stamp on front wrapper and title page. Original illustrated brown wrappers (chipped around the edges). Very good. Items three and four share the same text, but differ in title page and cover titles, illustrations, maps, wrapper ads, etc. Still a very good lot of promotional materials covering the founding and early years of an important Alabama industrial city. Original printed or decorated wrappers (with varying wear around the edges, several detached). (9029). Item #62112
Price: $3,750.00