THE RULES OF WORK OF THE CARPENTERS' COMPANY OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA 1786

Nearly twenty years ago the present writer, rummaging through the attic of Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, came across an old wooden packing box containing some copies of the Company's 1786 price book titled "Articles and Rules." Because it is almost unknown and yet of potential value to modern historians, it is being published again, in facsimile format. There is no mystery about its scarcity: the little volume had been in its own time highly restricted as a trade secret. Any member showing it to outsiders was liable to expulsion and when he died, the Company promptly called on the widow for his copy. Even Thomas Jefferson, writing from Charlottesville, was unable to obtain one as late as 1817. This rare work will be of interest to students of the American building industry for which early literature of any kind is uncommon. As far as is known, it is the first illustrated price book exclusively about carpentry, and the facsimile reprint is here named "The Rules of Work of the Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, 1786, with the Original Copper Plate Illustrations." [From Introduction]