For
your consideration:
For
your consideration:
Prelude
to the
DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE
United
States. Continental Congress.
Extracts from the votes and proceedings of the American Continental Congress,
held at Philadelphia, on the fifth of September, 1774. Containing, the Bill of
Rights, a list of grievances, occasional resolves, the association, an address
to the people of Great-Britain, and a memorial to the inhabitants of the British
American colonies. Published by order of the Congress. London: Repr. for J. Almon,
1774. 8vo (21 cm, 8.25"). [2] ff., 82 pp., [1 (adv.)] f.
The Congress was called to consider common action in reaction to the Coercive Acts that Parliament had imposed earlier, in the spring; in their turn, the Coercive Acts (the Boston Port Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Massachusetts Government Act) had been reactions to Boston’s defiance of the Tea Act. When the Congress met, however, it addressed itself not just to the Coercive Acts, but to all of the Intolerable Acts (i.e., the Coercive, the Quartering, and the Quebec Acts).
Virtually all scholars consider this Congress to mark the beginning of the American Revolution, not in the sense that it concertedly acted for independence but in that it definitely and aggressively sought fundamental reform. The record of its proceedings was eagerly awaited not just in America but throughout Europe, and was almost immediately reprinted in several different languages, with the present edition marking its first appearance in Great Britain.
• Adams, American Controversy, 74-83b; Sabin 15528; Howes E-247; ESTC T33919. Modern paper wrappers. Preliminary advertisement (for a bookbinder) with inner margin reinforced; one leaf with upper outer corner torn away. Title-page with perforation stamp and verso with institutional deaccession stamp; other pages very clean save for a very few small spots. Quite satisfactory.
How
the
British
Saw It
(American
Revolution). Characters.
Containing an impartial review of the public conduct and abilities of the most
eminent personages in the Parliament of Great-Britain: Considered as statesmen,
senators, and public speakers.... London: Pr. for J. Bew and sold by W. Davis,
T. Durham, and Richardson and Urquhart, 1777. 8vo. xv, [1], 152 pp.
On the retained fly-leaves are contemporary pencil sketches of a man's head, a cottage, and a man walking.
• Adams, American Controversy, 77-28a; Sabin 12015. Recent quarter calf antique style: mottled calf, round spine, raised bands accented with gilt ruling and beading, red leather spine label, marbled paper sides. Clean and complete with the half-title.
To fellow U.S.'ians . . . a Happy Fourth!
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