Harvard and Its Surroundings

Cambridge, Mass: Moses King, Publisher, 1883. Fifth Edition Revised. Hardcover. as is. 101 pages. Some pages and illustrations disbound but present. Some discoloration. Scarce surviving copy. Introduction, black and white map of the Vicinity of Harvard University, copiously Illustrated with Albertypes and Engravings (List of 39 Black and White Illustrations and 30 engravings) and the topics covered include a Glance at Harvard's History, A Walk Through Harvard and its Surroundings, and A Walk through Cambridge. There is an Index. This little handbook is designed to take the place of an intelligent companion to the visitor in his walk through Harvard and its historical vicinity, giving brief yet sufficiently definite descriptions of every place visited, with passing allusions to its leading historical and biographical associates, and devoting the larger proportion of space to the specially noteworthy objects. Moses King (April 13, 1853 - June 12, 1909) was an editor and publisher who produced guidebooks to travel destinations in the United States, including Massachusetts and New York. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1879 and Harvard College in 1881, at age 28. He published his first guidebook while still in college, titled Harvard and its Surroundings. He steadily published travel guidebooks from 1878 onwards. By 1888 he formally established the Moses King Corporation. King's illustrated publications about Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and elsewhere in the U.S. received generally positive reviews. King published a few handbooks in the Boston area that were written by Moses Foster Sweetser (1848-1897) M. F. The more popular titles of King's publications returned in updated editions. On May 10, 1883 the Harvard Crimson reported: The fifth edition of this interesting little book has just been issued by the publisher, Moses King. The work is so well known to most of our readers that an extended review of it would be superfluous. But for the benefit of those who have not seen it we would say that it contains a full and accurate account of all the buildings and places of interest connected with the university, and is copiously illustrated with Albertypes and engravings. It is neatly bound, and forms an attractive souvenir of college life. It contains several pages of local advertisements. Rare in any condition.