[FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN.]
Hall, David. Mite into the treasury; or, some serious remarks on that solemn and indispensable duty of duly attending assemblies for divine worship…. London, Printed: Philadelphia, Re-printed by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, 1758. A-D8. 8vo. Original front wrapper, bound in modern cloth gilt. Upper fore edge corner of A1 and A4 excised, affecting final letter of Wharton’s signature, a few other corners worn, some age toning to gutter margin of opening leaves, else very good.
Contains the signature of a Thomas Wharton to head of title page, and a holograph 8-line verse or aphorism to the front wrap in Wharton’s hand (”May we watch and pray to number our days / Before they pass away…”). Although Thomas Wharton (1735-1778) was the scion of a prominent Quaker family and first governor of Pennsylvania, this signature does not appear to comport with contemporary examples of his signature, suggesting another Wharton was the likely owner. Lawrence Larrabee of the Benjamin Franklin Papers attributes this example to Thomas Wharton, Sr. [1731-1782].
This paean to Quaker worship by David Hall had a small distribution. Miller does not make note of any other copies in the original wrapper, and locates 19 copies in institutions. Miller 683; Evans 8146.
![[FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN.]](https://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2005-06/08/7077085-2-1.jpg&width=640&height=480&autosizefit=1 "[FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN.]")
