Books and Manuscripts

The Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Carefully compared with the Originals. And an Appendix, Containing the Laws now in Force, passed between the 30th Day of September 1775, and the Revolution. Together with The Declaration of Independence; the Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania; and the Articles of Confederation of the United States of America
Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by Francis Bailey, 1782. First edition. Folio. (iv), xxxi, (i), 527, (1), viii pp. Modern quarter brown calf over marbled paper-covered boards; red morocco spine label, stamped in gilt; all edges trimmed; ink stamp of the Association of the Bar Library, City of New York in top corner of title-page, contemporary ownership signature, dated 1787, and ownership signature dated 1837 on same; light spotting to text; light to moderate dampstaining in bottom corner of leaves at rear; in cloth fall-down-back box. Evans 17656; Hildeburn 4179; NAIP w006513; Sabin 5982; Tower 774

Scarce first edition of the first collection of Pennsylvania laws to be published following the American Revolution. Edited by Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas McKean, the collection includes early printings of the Declaration of Independence, the first Constitution of Pennsylvania, and the Articles of Confederation.