Beschreibung:

CONTINENTAL CONGRESSJournals of Congress. Containing the Proceedings ... Volume I [-XIII]. Philadelphia: R. Aitken [John Dunlap, David Claypoole], 1777–1788 11 volumes, 8vo (each ca. 8 x 4 3/4 in.; 204 x 120 mm, with variation). Vol. 2 with printing of the Declaration of Independence, Vol. 12 with printing of the Constitution of the United States; Vol. 6 an abridgement issued by the Congress, Vol. 8 incomplete (280pp., only covering up to 1 July 1783), Vol. 9 lacking 17pp. index, soiling and browning to Vol. 6, intermittent dampstaining and browning to Vol. 12, some contemporary pencil marks or annotations. Vols. 1-7, 9, 12 (11), and 12 in contemporary boards, Vol. 8 in original wrappers, all untrimmed, Vols. 12 (11) and 12 partially unopened; Vols. 1 and 2 with detached boards, Vol. 5 joints starting, Vols, 1-3, and 8, spines perished, Vols. 6, 7, and 9 with loss to spines, all with rubbing to extremities with wear.Lot includes: Vol. I, Proceedings from Sept. 5, 1774 to Jan. 1, 1776. Philadelphia: R. Aitken, 1777 (Evans 15683). ⁠— Vol. II, Proceedings in the Year 1776. Philadelphia: R. Aitken, 1777 (Evans 15684). ⁠— Vol. III, Proceedings from January 1, 1777 to January 1, 1778. New York: John Patterson, [1778] (Evans 21527). ⁠— Vol. IV, Proceedings from January 1st, 1778 to January 1st, 1779. Philadelphia: Claypoole, [1779] (Evans 16584). ⁠— Vol. V, Proceedings from January 1, 1779 to January 1, 1780. Philadelphia: 1800 (Folwell's Press edition, see Evans 38750). — Vol. VI, Resolutions, Acts and Orders of Congress for the Year 1780. [Philadelphia]: John Dunlap, [1786] (Evans 20079). — Vol. VII. Journals of Congress ... for the Year 1781. Philadelphia: Claypoole, 1781 (Evans 17767). — Vol. VIII, The Proceedings from the First Monday in November 1782 to the First Monday in November 1783. Philadelphia: Claypoole, 1783 (Evans 18226). — Vol. IX, The Proceedings from the Third Day of November 1783 to the Third Day of June 1784. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, [1784] (Evans 18840). — Vol. XII (but XI), Proceedings from the 3rd Day of November 1785 to the Third Day of November 1786. [Philadelphia]: John Dunlap, [1786] (Evans 20068). — Vol. XII, The Proceedings from the Sixth Day of November 1786 to the Fifth Day of November 1787. [New York], 1787 (Evans 20772). On 26 September 1776, Congress authorized Robert Aitken to reprint the two congressional journals that had appeared, essentially, as occasional publications "and to continue to print the same." In the event, Aitken's duties were often fulfilled by John Dunlap and David Claypoole, both well known to Congress. The Journals contain the most vital documents from the Revolutionary period through the proposal of the federal constitution, including the text of the Declaration of Independence (with the names of the Signers), minutes of the debates at the Constitutional Convention, and the proposed text of that document. A printing of the text of the Declaration of Independence is present in Volume 2, and a printing of the text of the Constitution of the United States is present in Volume 12. LITERATURE:Matyas, Declaration of Independence 77-09A PROVENANCE:Benjamin Huntington (Vols. 4 and 8 signed, Vol. 8 dated) ⁠— John Lowell (Lowell was a US Jurist, Vol. 7 signed) ⁠— John Reed (member of US Congress, Vol. 9 signed and dated)Condition ReportCondition as described in catalogue entry. The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The