Two issues of the Pennsylvania Magazine, or American Monthly Museum, edited by Thomas Paine, from July 1775 and August 1775, printed in Philadelphia by R. Aitken. The July issue features the first appearance of Paine's celebrated poem "The Liberty Tree," attributed to his favorite pseudonym "Atlanticus." It also reprints "A Declaration by the Representatives of the united Colonies of North-America, now met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms." Additional pieces are on the 1745 Siege of Louisbourg, the 1758 Battle of Ticonderoga, an "Extract of a letter from Roxbury, July 11, A true account of the officers of the ministerial troops, killed and wounded at the battle of Charlestown, June 17, 1775," and notes on promotions, including "His Excellency General Washington has appointed Joseph Reed, Esq; of this city, his Secretary; and the hon. Major General Ward, has appointed Samuel Osgood, Esq: his Aid-de-Camp."
The August issue contains a piece on the "Method of making Salt-Petre at Hanover, 1766," reprints of correspondence between Charles Lee and John Burgoyne, an address from the Continental Congress to the inhabitants of Great Britain, and a notice on Benjamin Franklin's becoming the nation's first postmaster general, "The Hon. Continental Congress have appointed Dr. Franklin, Postmaster General of the united Colonies of North America." It also provides notices of the births of babies named "John Hancock" and "George Washington." In very good condition, with some mild scattered staining; formerly bound together, now disbound without wrappers, and lacking the map plates with which they were issued.
