A Fine Collection of American Literature and History

The First Collected Edition of the Journals of Congress

Philadelphia: From Folwell's Press, 1800-1801, and David C. Claypoole, 1783. In 12 volumes; comprising 11 (of 13) Folwell volumes (Vols.VIII and XII wanting), and with Claypoole edition supplied in place of Vol. VIII. 8vo. Each in original unsophisticated blue paper-covered boards, several retaining portions of original paper spine labels, each volume numbered and dated in contemporary manuscript on spine, some spines splitting but holding, boards variously soiled, some with dampstaining, front board of Vol. IX starting; all edges untrimmed; Vols. II-XI, and XIII largely unopened; contemporary manuscript note on front free endpaper of Vol. I, "the scarcest book in America, uncut copy"; title-pages toned and foxed; small portion of bottom corner of title-page of Vol. II torn away, but not affecting text; with the illustrated book-plate of Sidney Morse Hauptman (1876-1946) on front and/or rear free endpaper of each volume, signature of his father, George N. Hauptman (1844-1924) under same or ion front or rear blank of each volume (top of title-pages of Vols. IX, XI, and XIII); 19th century ownership inscription in pencil of E.M. Patterson of New Brunswick, dated 1874, at front or rear of most volumes; early 19th century signature of Nathan Williams on front free endpapers of Vols. III, VIII, and XIII (last dated 1816); ownership signature of John Aiken (?) at top of title-page in Vol. XII; each volume in matching quarter tan goatskin fall-down-back box, unevenly faded. Evans 38750 and 18266; Sabin 15545; Shaw & Shoemaker 1487, 1488, 1490

A scarce unsophisticated, largely unopened, and near-complete set of the first collected edition of the Journals of Congress, printing the proceedings from the First Continental Congress, beginning on September 5, 1774, through to the final session of the Confederation Congress, on November 3, 1788, just before the institution of the Federal government under the new Constitution. "The Journals are the most vital records of the Revolutionary and Confederation period." (Reese, The Revolutionary Hundred, p. 114).

Richard Folwell's publication was authorized at the direction of Congress in 1799 in an edition of only 400 sets for the use of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Prior to this, Congress's Journals only appeared in annual volumes, published over the years by three different printers (such as the Claypoole edition here), and in different formats. These became increasingly difficult for members of Congress to acquire, and they are largely unobtainable today. This collected edition, published by Folwell using the original annual volumes, covers the First and Second Continental Congresses, with the Declaration of Independence printed in full in Vol. II (pp. 229-233), the proceedings of the Congress of the Confederation, with the Articles of Confederation printed in full in Vol. III (pp. 396-401), the end of the American Revolution, with Congress's ratification of the Definitive Treaty of Paris, printed in full in Vol. IX (pp. 20-25), and through to the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1788, with entries in Vol. XIII regarding its adoption.

The Nathan Williams who signed Vols. III, VIII, and XIII, may be the same United States Congressman (1773-1835) who represented New York during the Ninth Congress, from 1805-07. Williams was the first lawyer to permanently establish a law practice in Utica, New York, and during the War of 1812 was a major in a company of militia at Sackett's Harbor. He assisted in the establishment of the Utica Public Library, of which he was librarian; was president of the Manhattan Bank; district attorney for the sixth district, from 1801-1813; was a member of the New York State assembly, from 1816-1818 and in 1819; regent of the University of the State of New York from January 28, 1817 to February 13, 1824; district attorney of Oneida County, from 1818-1821; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1821; judge of the circuit court, from 1823-1833; was appointed clerk of the State supreme court in 1834. He was also known for representing the Oneida Native Americans as a lawyer.