MASSACHUSETTS - ADAMS, JOHN] A Constitution or Frame of Government, Agreed upon by the Delegates of the People of the State of... . Boston: Benjamin Edes & Sons, 1780. First edition. 20th century cloth with a red lettering label. Printed on paper of various color and size, largest leaves 9 x 5 1/2 inches (23 x 14.5 cm); 53 pp.; Signatures: [A]^(4) B-F^(4) G^(4) (but lacking final blank leaf G4). Discreet repaired tear to inner margin of half-title, stamps to title, imprint weak at foot of title, lacking blank as noted, some foxing; Together with An Address of the Convention for Framing a New Constitution of Government for the State Of Massachusetts-Bay, To Their Constituents. Boston: White and Adams, 1780. First edition. Cloth. 18 pp. (lacks half-title]. Trimmed, ink and blind-stamp to title and marginal repair affecting two letters. First edition of the newly written Massachusetts Constitution, chiefly composed by John Adams and considered on a par with the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist and the other major documents of the revolutionary period. This constitution was composed after a previous version had been voted down the year before (see ) and after a proper constitutional convention had taken place. Considered one of the finest works by Adams, the constitution contains the Frame of Government and a Declaration of Rights which includes the controversial phrase "All men are born free and equal," adapted from the Declaration of Independence and one of the only additions to Adams' original text. This constitution was submitted for revision to the constituents and would be revised and printed again before a final version was ratified the following year (see the next lot). Of note here is the use of the word "state" as well as the designation of "Massachusetts-Bay" in the title here - in the final constitution the title is changed to the "Commonwealth of Massachusetts," a commonwealth being a type of state based on the common consent of the people rather than legitimized through a previous royal charter. This work is sold with the Address of the Convention for Framing a New Constitution which calls for the revisions that would be present in the later edition. Evans 16843 & 16844; Sabin 45691 (revised issue); Kuhlman p. 34. C The New York City Bar Association
MASSACHUSETTS - ADAMS, JOHN] A Constitution or Frame of Government, Agreed upon by the Delegates of the People of the State of... . Boston: Benjamin Edes & Sons, 1780. First edition. 20th century cloth with a red lettering label. Printed on paper of various color and size, largest leaves 9 x 5 1/2 inches (23 x 14.5 cm); 53 pp.; Signatures: [A]^(4) B-F^(4) G^(4) (but lacking final blank leaf G4). Discreet repaired tear to inner margin of half-title, stamps to title, imprint weak at foot of title, lacking blank as noted, some foxing; Together with An Address of the Convention for Framing a New Constitution of Government for the State Of Massachusetts-Bay, To Their Constituents. Boston: White and Adams, 1780. First edition. Cloth. 18 pp. (lacks half-title]. Trimmed, ink and blind-stamp to title and marginal repair affecting two letters. First edition of the newly written Massachusetts Constitution, chiefly composed by John Adams and considered on a par with the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist and the other major documents of the revolutionary period. This constitution was composed after a previous version had been voted down the year before (see ) and after a proper constitutional convention had taken place. Considered one of the finest works by Adams, the constitution contains the Frame of Government and a Declaration of Rights which includes the controversial phrase "All men are born free and equal," adapted from the Declaration of Independence and one of the only additions to Adams' original text. This constitution was submitted for revision to the constituents and would be revised and printed again before a final version was ratified the following year (see the next lot). Of note here is the use of the word "state" as well as the designation of "Massachusetts-Bay" in the title here - in the final constitution the title is changed to the "Commonwealth of Massachusetts," a commonwealth being a type of state based on the common consent of the people rather than legitimized through a previous royal charter. This work is sold with the Address of the Convention for Framing a New Constitution which calls for the revisions that would be present in the later edition. Evans 16843 & 16844; Sabin 45691 (revised issue); Kuhlman p. 34. C The New York City Bar Association
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Create an alert![MASSACHUSETTS - ADAMS, JOHN] A Constitution or Frame of Government, Agreed...](https://doyle.com/sites/default/files/styles/auction_slider/public/images/lots/2014-11-24/1014571.jpg?itok=pZ3CfxCV "Source: Doyle New York - Auctioneers & Appraisers")
