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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, and Address to the People of Great-Britain, and a Memorial to the Inhabitants of the British American Colonies. Published by Order of Congress.
Philadelphia Printed. London: Reprinted for J. Almon, Opposite Burlington House, Picadilly, 1774. 8vo (8” x 4.75”). [ii, title leaf], 82, 2 pp. pub. ads. Removed from sammelband, with remnant of binding at spine. CONDITION: Very good, title page creased, light foxing to first and last few leaves, later pencil annotation to title page, minor puncture at center and loss at lower margin of first leaves, not affecting text. The first British edition of the proceedings of the first Continental Congress, “one of the most important documents of the American Revolution” (Reese). These Extracts represent a condensed version of the activity of the Continental Congress’s first session, between September 5th and October 26th, 1774, and it is through them—reprinted in Boston, Hartford, Lancaster, New York, Annapolis, London, and elsewhere—that the groundwork for America’s organized resistance and rebellion was laid. Rushed to the press immediately after the session’s close, the Extracts contains the Declaration of Rights; the List of Grievances; the articles of Association, by which the colonies united in their boycott of consuming, importing, or exporting British goods, and which Abraham Lincoln would later identify as the origin of the Union; and three addresses, to “the People of Great Britain,” the British North American colonists, and the colonists of Quebec. In this latter address, the Congress solicits Quebec’s friendship and support of “the consolidated powers of North-America,” and invites delegates to the year’s Congressional session. Howes describes the Extracts as “The forerunner of the Declaration of Independence.” REFERENCES: Adams, American Controversy 74-83c; Evans 13713–13736 (for the American imprints); Howes E247; Reese, Revolutionary Hundred 25 (for the Philadelphia edition); Sabin 15528.
Item #7518
Price: $2,750.00