Beschreibung:

MASSACHUSETTS, COLONY, LAWS]. The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary, to the Inhabitants of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England . Boston: Printed by B.[enjamin] Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1726. 2 o (306 x 192 mm). (2), 14, 17, (3), 347 pages. Section title for Acts and Laws of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusett's Bay in New-England . (Some occasional pale browning and spotting.) Contemporary calf, gilt floral border on sides (rebacked in calf, duplicating the similar binding on the John Carter Brown Library copy). Provenance : Sir Philip Yorke (presentation inscription); Colworth Library (inscription on pastedown: "Colworth Library. repaired, 1826"); Michael Zinman (bookplate). AN EXCEPTIONAL COLONIAL ASSOCIATION: Boldly inscribed by Jonathan Belcher to Philip Yorke, the eminent jurist, on the flyleaf: "To the Hono b l e Sir Philip York His Majesty's Attorney General From His Most Obedient Most Faithful & Most Humble Ser v t J. Belcher Boston N Engld Octob e r 18 1732." At the time of this inscription, Jonathan Belcher (1682-1737) was the Governor of both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. His tenure ran for eleven years, starting in 1730, and Belcher was adept at handling the delicate balance necessary to serve two masters: the British ministry and the New England people. In 1747 he was appointed governor of New Jersey, making him governor of three colonies, each for over a decade. The present set of acts and laws, begun under the reign of William and Mary in 1726 and continued under Queen Anne and King George II to 1732 (see list below), was presumably bound during the early years of Belcher's tenure as governor. Philip Yorke (1690-1764), 1st Earl of Hardwicke, was attorney general to George II from 1724. He was chief justice after 1733 and lord chancellor after 1737. The present book is a remarkable association copy, linking the laws of the crown to their administrator in the colonies and their chief enforcer in England. Evans 2762; NAIP w007100. Following at end with continuous pagination, all Boston, by Benjamin Green Acts and Laws... Twenty-fifth Day of May, 1726 . Pp. 349-354. Evans 2900; NAIP w008435. -- Acts and Laws... Thirty-first Day of May, 1727 . Pp. 355-370. Evans 2901; NAIP w008436. -- Acts and Laws... the Thirty-first Day of May, 1727 . Pp. 317-373. Evans 2901; NAIP w008436. -- An Act... the Thirty-first Day of May, 1727 . Pp. 375-376. Evans 3054; NAIP w008439. -- Acts and Laws... the Twenty-second Day of November 1727 . Pp. 377-400. Evans 3055. -- Acts and Laws... the Tenty-ninth Day of May, 1728 . Pp. 401-412. Evans 3056; w008443. -- Acts and Laws... the Twenty-ninth Day of May, 1728 . Pp. 413-416. Evans 3057; NAIP w008441. -- An Act... the Twenty-ninth Day of May, 1728 . Pp. 417-419. Evans 3182; NAIP w032783. -- Acts and Laws... the Twenty-eight Day of May, 1729 . Pp. 421-425. Evans 3306; NAIP w00844. -- Acts and Laws... the Twenty-seventh Day of May, 1730 . Pp. 426-436. Evans 3307; NAIP w008440. -- Acts and Laws... the Tenth Day of February, 1730. Pp. 437-456. Evans 3440; NAIP w008450. -- Acts and Laws... the Twenty-sixth Day of May, 1731 . Pp. 457-462. Evans 3441; NAIP w008451. -- Acts and Laws... the Twenty-sixth Day of May, 1731 . Pp. 463-468. Evans 3442; NAIP w008453. -- Acts and Laws... the Twenty-sixth Day of May, 1731 . Pp. 469-476. Evans 3564; NAIP w008448. -- Acts and Laws... the Thirty-first Day of May, 1732 . Pp. 477-483. Evans 3565; NAIP w008455.