Books and Manuscripts

A Very Rare and Early Document Published by Pennsylvania’s Whigs in the Lead-up to the American Revolution

Extracts from the Votes and Proceedings Of the American Continental Congress, Held at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774…To which is added, The Proceedings of the Provincial Convention, Held at Philadelphia, January 23, 1775
Philadelphia: Printed by William and Thomas Bradford, 1775. First edition thus (Published by order of the Provincial Convention). 8vo. 80 pp. Stab-sewn gatherings, edges untrimmed; chipping and wear along edges of all leaves; soiling and dampstaining to title-page; dampstaining in bottom gutter of first 33 pages; wear and loss in bottom gutter beginning at p. 41, affecting text on pp. 67-80; crude repairs in top edge of p. 78 and in gutter of pp. 77-80, affecting text; in tan morocco fall-down-back box. Evans 14551; Hildeburn, Pennsylvania 3208; ESTC W15207; OCLC 3758264; Reese, The Revolutionary Hundred 25 (first edition); Not in Sabin or Howes

A very rare document published by Pennsylvania’s Whig faction in the lead-up to the American Revolution, and the final printed form of the important Extracts from the First Continental Congress. This document condenses the most important proceedings of the First Continental Congress, and was published by a Provincial Convention of Pennsylvania’s moderate and radical Whigs, held in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House, from January 23 to 28, 1775. The Convention “approved the proceedings of the Continental Congress and resolved to ‘faithfully endeavor to carry into execution, the measures of the association entered into, and recommended, by them.’ The pretext for calling the Convention was to encourage domestic manufacturing. But the real object was to familiarize the people with the necessity of subverting the old charter and establishing a new constitution on a more popular basis.” (Selsam, The Political Revolution in Pennsylvania in 1776, p. 151) This document represents months of organization by the colony’s Whigs, largely made up of laborers, artisans, and those who could not vote or hold office, and who supported the actions of the Continental Congress and, eventually, separation from Great Britain. “From the time of this meeting…there was a sort of dual authority in Pennsylvania; the Whigs and radicals favoring the General Committee and the Conferences; their opponents supporting the Assembly and the old charter.” (p. 151) Over the next year, the Whigs would gradually usurp power from the Pennsylvania Assembly, and by the summer of 1776, they would overthrow the existing order and ratify Pennsylvania’s first Constitution.

Over 25 resolutions passed by the Convention are printed within, including those lending support to the actions of the Continental Congress, pledging to faithfully uphold the Continental Association, to pass a law banning the importation of slaves into the colony, and to take measures in the event of the outbreak of war–only three months away–such as preserving food, gunpowder, salt, wool, copper, etc.

The Extracts was first published in Philadelphia by William and Thomas Bradford, on October 24, 1774, and was reissued three days later, on October 27, with the inclusion of Congress’s Petition to King George III, passed on October 25. This reissue was widely reprinted throughout the American colonies, with editions appearing in Albany, Boston, Annapolis, Hartford, Lancaster, New York, Newport, etc. “It was through this pamphlet form, widely reprinted, that most persons became aware of the actions of the Congress.” (Reese, 1774 edition). And as is seen in this edition, its ideas are put into effect. This volume contains the most important proceedings from the First Continental Congress, including the Declaration of Rights, passed on October 14, 1774, that asserted the colonists’ rights as Englishmen (pp. 3-14); the Continental Association, passed on October 24, binding the colonies in agreement to non-importation, non-exportation, and non-consumption of British goods (pp. 15-24); two addresses, to the people of Great Britain (pp. 25-39), and to the inhabitants of the colonies (40-60); the Petition to the King (pp. 61-70), drafted by John Dickinson, asserting their loyalty to the King and calling for him to repeal the Intolerable Acts.

Very rare. ESTC locates only five copies, at the American Philosophical Society, the Huntington Library, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Library Company of Philadelphia, and the New York Public Library. OCLC further locates copies in the Pennsylvania State Library and in the Illinois University Library. We have not been able to locate another copy in the available auction records.