Guide to Laurel Hill Cemetery, Near Philadelphia.

With a List of Lotholders

by [John Jay Smith] 

Philadelphia:  For Sale at the Cemetery, ND  

Hardback is overall in VERY GOOD- condition.

• Contemporary marble covers are quarter leatherbound. 
• Boards show some wear, scuffing, edgewear.  Corners are bumped, worn, with exposed board.  See photos.
• Spine has gilt text and is bright with firm ends.
• Binding, with expert repairs to the spine strip, is secure. 
• Pastedowns and feps have some light foxing, staining, owner's marks.
• Interior is uniformly age-toned, exhibits scattered foxing, some smudges. 
• Inside pages are free of writing and intentional marks.
• PS2025.0710

221 pages. 4.75 x 7.5 inches

A Very Good- copy of this guide to Laurel Hill Cemetery, near Philadelphia.  Contemporary marble paper boards, unmarked but quite worn at edges and corners, with some expert repairs to the spine strip.  The text block is distinguished by its ornamentation; each page is framed by floral garlands, reinforcing the botanical garden quality of Laurel Hill.  Paper is tanned, with a scattering of spots,   Compact format designed for ease of use by visitors to the cemetery.

Laurel Hill Cemetery, founded in 1836, was the second major rural cemetery in the United States after Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts.  The cemetery was designed by John Notman and grew to its current size through the purchase of four land parcels between 1836 and 1861.  Laurel Hill Cemetery produced guidebooks starting with a quarto edition in 1844, followed by smaller, more portable formats in subsequent years.  Visitors located individual graves by consulting the list of lot-holders each guidebook contained. 

An 1847 guidebook, printed by Conger Sherman, was likely penned by John Jay Smith, although his name did not appear on the title page.  At the time, Smith was the Librarian of the Library Company as well as the Secretary for Laurel Hill Cemetery.  The present copy also has no author named on the title page, but was published on behalf of the cemetery, which leaves open the possibility that the text is that of Smith.  No date is given, but the lot lists are current to June 1857, with an addendum extending to August 1857, suggesting publication late in 1857.  

Stamped on the title page "Theodore K Young", and inscribed in pencil on the fep, "Theodore K. Young, 2234 N. 28th St.," (Philadelphia).  It is possible this book belonged to the Theodore K. Young who was elected as a judge in Philadelphia in 1891.

Please see photos. More photos available upon request.

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