The History of the Girard National Bank of Philadelphia, 1832-1902

EB. Very Good. Hardcover. Leather. 8vo. J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia PA. 1902. 120 pgs. Illustrated with 18 plates. First Edition/First Printing. Bound in full leather with gilt titles and decoration present to the spine and gilt vignette (seal of the Girard bank) present to the front boards. Boards have light wear present to the extremities of the boards (some light scuffing present). Previous owner's bookplate present to the reverse of the front board, previous owner's gift inscription (to Charles Wolcott Henry from Francis P. Reeves? ) present to the FFEP. Text is clean and free of marks. Binding tight and solid. A history of the Girard National Bank beginning with the times of the Revolutionary War and the emergency that war placed upon the national finances. This book mainly focuses on the organization of bank, with a copy of bill of incorporation and some minutes of 1832 and statements of 1832-33. Appendix contains biographies of officers and directors, 1932-1902. After the charter for the First Bank of the United States expired in 1811, Stephen Girard purchased most of its stock and its facilities on South Third Street in Philadelphia, then reorganized it under his direct personal control. He hired George Simpson, the cashier of the First Bank, as cashier of the new bank, and with seven other employees, opened for business on May 18, 1812. He allowed the Trustees of the First Bank of the United States to use some offices and space in the vaults to continue the process of winding down the affairs of the closed bank at a very nominal rent. Although Pennsylvania law prohibited an association of individuals from banking without a charter, it made no such prohibition on a single individual doing so. Philadelphia banks balked at accepting the notes that Girard issued on his personal credit and lobbied the state to force him to incorporate, without success. Girard Bank was a Philadelphia based bank founded by Stephen Girard in 1811. The bank was acquired by Mellon Bank in 1983 and then, two decades later, by Citizens Bank. EB; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .