Who was publisher Prentiss Whitney and did he work with the Boston Bewick Company to publish stereotyped copies of the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 1

Prentiss Whitney (1787-1870) was an auctioneer at 30 Washington St. Boston in the 1830's and 1840's. His ancestor Rev. Peter Whitney of Northborough, Ma was one of the first to call for publishing the Declaration of Independence ("American independence vindicated. A sermon delivered September 12, 1776. At a lecture appointed for publishing the Declaration of Independence passed July 4, 1776. By the representatives of the United States of America in general congress assembled"). Peter Whitney also wrote "The History of the County of Worcester, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts".

The Boston Bewick Company, no. 47 Court Street, Boston, was an association of authors, artists, printers, and bookbinders which was in existence from 1834-1838. It is mostly known for publishing engravings, and for hiring Nathaniel Hawthorne as editor of the "American Magazine of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge". The Act to incorporate the Boston Bewick Company states it is founded for:

...the purpose of employing, improving, and extending the art of engraving, polytyping, embossing and printing, and carrying on the business thereof.

1835 Boston Bewick ad:

Engraving, Stereotyping, and Printing.: Boston Bewick Company. The Boston Bewick Company Respectfully Give Notice that They are Ready to Receive Orders for Engraving on Wood, Steel and Copper; and for Copper-plate, Letter Press and Xylographic Printing, in All Their Branches. ...

By Boston Bewick Company.

Prentiss Whitney published a beautiful copy of the Declaration of Independence. It is approximately 26" tall by 21" wide. It has a four-line title printed in 4 different fonts. The text of the document is primarily in a handscript, with some words enlarged and bolded in print type of four different fonts. Bottom section contains the signature replicas. The entire document is surrounded by two intertwined vines which encircle 13 state medallions and an eagle and shield Federal medallion. Vines and medallions are fully hand-colored. At the very bottom is printed:

"STEREOTYPED BY THE BOSTON BEWICK COMPANY."

"PUBLISHED BY PRENTISS WHITNEY, 30, WASHINGTON STREET."

It is undated, but probably published in 1835.

Prentiss Whitney's only other known publishing work is an 1835 engraving titled "Destruction of Tea in Boston Harbor in 1773" which was designed by artist George Loring Brown (1814-1889) and probably engraved by the Boston wood engraver and artist Richard P. Mallory.