[Americana] [United States Constitution] The New-Haven Gazette, and the Connecticut Magazine

The Earliest Available Connecticut Printing of the United States Constitution

"We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

New Haven: Josiah Meigs, Thursday, September 27, 1787 (Vol. II, No. 32). Printed newspaper. 4to. 8 pp. Contemporary half sheep over marbled paper-covered boards, morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt, extremities rubbed, joints tender; light dampstaining to upper corner of first three leaves; scattered stains and toning throughout. Evans 20563; Lomazow 18b

Bound with a near-consecutive run of 41 other issues, including: Vol. II, Nos. 3-24, 26-28, [no. 29 crossed out by hand and noted as no. 30], 30-45; March 8-December 13, 1787. Lacking a few leaves; some bound out of order; staining and browning throughout.

Although considered by many to be the first Connecticut newspaper printing of the Constitution, former National Archives archivist Leonard Rapport states in his Printing the Constitution: The Convention and Newspaper Imprints, August-November 1787, in the Journal of the National Archives (2:2, 1970), that "The Constitution appeared in the New Haven Connecticut Journal, its first printing in that state" although we can find no examples of that printing. According to The Indiana University Bookman (The Lilly Library, September 1987, No. 16, pp. 30-31), "On September 27, The Norwich Packet carried the first of two installments of the Constitution. The same day, the Constitution appeared in The New-Haven Gazette, and The Connecticut Magazine. The New London Connecticut Gazette published the first installment on September 28. Three papers published the text of the Constitution on October 1: Middletown Middlesex Gazette, Hartford Connecticut Courant and Weekly Intelligencer, and the Hartford American Mercury."

This printing of the Constitution was printed only ten days after its adoption by the Constitutional Convention, held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. After its adoption by the Convention, it was then debated by the Confederation Congress, then assembled in New York City, for two days before being officially sent to the individual states for ratification. Only one day after this printing, on September 28, 1787, the Confederation Congress voted unanimously to submit the Constitution to the states for ratification. It required that each state hold a ratifying convention and elect delegates to debate and then vote on adopting the text. As per the Confederation Congress rules, when nine states had voted to adopt, the Constitution would take effect. The ensuing state ratifying conventions were often dramatic affairs, pitting Federalists, who sought to adopt the Constitution, against Anti-Federalists, who viewed with alarm the extended powers the Constitution gave to the government. Connecticut delegates to the Constitutional Convention were instrumental in breaking a deadlock over legislative representation and devised the two-house legislative system we know today. On January 9, 1788, they became the fifth state to ratify the Constitution with a vote of 128-40, and their assent helped push the cause just over the halfway point toward adoption.

The Constitution is printed in full on the first three pages, with the Preamble printed in large type front and center on the first page, and is signed in type by George Washington and the 38 signing delegates. The Constitution is preceded by a printing of George Washington's letter transmitting the document to Congress, and is followed by a printing of the Constitutional Convention's resolution for ratification, as well as an opinion article in support of adopting the text. Further, on p. 254 is an article on the Constitution's reception in Pennsylvania, in which Benjamin Franklin's famous September 17th Convention speech is mentioned.

Complete collation available upon request.

Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

darrenwinston@freemansauction.com 267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Americana] [United States Constitution] The New-Haven Gazette, and the Connecticut Magazine

Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts, Including Americana

[Americana] [United States Constitution] The New-Haven Gazette, and the Connecticut Magazine

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