BALTIMORE CITY DIRECTORY FOR THE YEAR COMMENCING JULY 1ST, 1917

Baltimore: R. L. Polk & Co, 1917. Very good plus.. First printing of this precursor to the modern phone book, a hefty directory of Baltimore-based people and businesses – including the name and address of Babe Ruth's father, George H. Ruth, Sr. Details on George "Babe" Ruth Jr.'s early life growing up in Baltimore are scarce. Babe's father, George, was the owner of several saloons, and it is speculated that his freewheeling parenting style was what eventually landed Babe in St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reform school outside Baltimore. By 1917, Babe was playing for the Boston Red Sox, where he was quickly building a reputation as a talented hitter; his father was living above his saloon on Eutaw Street. George would be killed by his brother-in-law the following year, the result of a fight that started at the saloon listed by his name on page 1680 of the CITY DIRECTORY.

With ads for everything from "scientific" carpet-cleaning to type foundries, as well as addresses for many private residences such as George Ruth's, this 1917 BALTIMORE CITY DIRECTORY is a fascinating moment in time. The bulky volume contains examples of the origin of the phonebook terms "yellow pages" and "white pages" – pages printed on white or yellow paper, for commercial and non-commercial listings respectively. 9.75'' x 6'' x 4''. Original green and red cloth binding, with stamping in gilt, red, and black. Printed fore-edge advertisement for safe deposit vaults. Illustrated in black and white. 2680 pages, some on thicker yellow paper. Boards with mild edgewear, some bumping to corners; red finish of spine chipped to spine ends and joints. Leaves with occasional soiling, a few with shallow creases; one loose leaf. Remarkably intact. (Inventory #: 45592)