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The Love of Truth, Mark the Boy.

[Germantown, Pennsylvania: Germantown Print Works], [circa 1806]. Printed glazed cotton handkerchief, 12’’ x 11.25”; engraved title banner and illustration above three columns of text, the whole printed in brown ink within narrow zigzag-pattern border.

One of two handkerchiefs celebrating the character of George Washington that were printed simultaneously at the Germantown Print Works in the first decade of the 19th century.

The text consists of what is likely the earliest appearance in verse form of Parson Weems’ famous tale of Washington and the cherry tree, and reflects its growing popularity. The illustration shows the young Washington holding his axe and standing in the family garden by his father, who points to the notch in his beloved cherry tree. An uncut example of The Love of Truth, Mark the Boy printed beside The Effect of Principle, Behold the Man—which features the full-length figure of Washington, an excerpt from his Farewell Address, and a eulogy—is in the collections of the Western Reserve Historical Society.

An attractive example of this scarce and desirable piece of Washingtoniana.

REFERENCES: Collins, H.R. Threads of History, no. 39, identifying the publisher and noting a copy at Cornell as well as the one at Western Reserve HS. OCLC locates five copies, at Yale, Boston Athenaeum, Brown, Michigan State, and the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Good, scattered brown stains, one tiny hole in image, early owner’s initials reading “CBM” at end of verses.

Item #2959

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