Breton, William “Wharton House” [Philadelphia]

William Breton.  “Wharton House.”  [Philadelphia]. 

From The Casket.   Philadelphia: 1826-1839. Approximately 3 1/4 x 4 3/4.  Wood engraving by Gilbert.  Good condition.

A view of the country seat of Joseph Wharton (1707-1776), a successful merchant who named it Walnut Grove near present-day 5th Street and Washington Avenue.  The house was torn down in 1862. 

In 1826, Samuel C. Atkinson and Charles Alexander founded The Casket: Flowers of Literature, Wit and Sentiment. Though it had a fairly short run, the Casket was said to be the most widely circulated monthly in the United States. It included articles, stories, poetry, puzzles, and steel and wood engraved illustrations, many of which showed scenes of Philadelphia.