Beschreibung:

LOUISIANA TERRITORY - MISSOURI] The Laws of the Territory of Louisiana. Comprising all those which are now in force within the same. Published by Authority . St. Louis: printed by Joseph Charless, printer to the Territory, 1808 [but not before 29 April 1809]. Half leather, cloth sides, housed in a clamshell case. 8 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches (21.6 x 13 cm); 376, [58] pp., the last portion being the index. The covers detached and spine partially perished, Bar Association stamp in ink and blind and accession number on the verso. Paper lightly toned, a few minor marginal tears, several annotations but overall a fresh copy of a book rarely found thus (the lower edge of many leaves retaining portions of the original deckle edge, and there are traces of original stab-stitching in the gutter). A generally attractive copy of one of the rarest laws of the Louisiana Territory, whose 1804 purchase under Jefferson gave impetus to the westward expansion of the United States. From this vast tract of land was carved not just Louisiana itself, but Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming and much of Colorado. This is the first substantial book printed west of the Mississippi (it was once considered the very first book, but the actual date of publication is slightly later than the title page date). Charless was the first printer in Missouri, and was granted official status. He had moved from Louisville to St. Louis in the summer of 1808, when this work was undertaken. The dating to 1809 is based on the printed statement on p. 373 by Frederick Bates, Secretary of Louisiana, regarding the Laws, which is dated 29 April. This copy is quite a tall example, the Streeter copy having measured only 20.7 cm. Sabin 42246; American Imprints Inventory No. 1. A Preliminary Check List of Missouri Imprints 1808-1850 1; Howes L504; Streeter 1838. C The New York City Bar Association