NEW YORK - MONTGOMERIE CHARTER] The Charter of the City of New-York; Printed by Order of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City Aforesaid. To which is Annexed, the Act of the General Assembly Confirming the Same . New York: John Peter Zenger, 1735. First edition, known as the "Montgomerie Charter." Red morocco, the covers ruled in gilt, the spine tooled and lettered in gilt with raised bands. 11 7/8 x 18 cm (30 x 18 cm); 52 pp.; Signatures: A-M^(2) [N](1) (lacking first blank pi1, p. 12-13 misnumbered 10-11). Stamp to title and verso, upper cover detached, lacking front free endpaper, flyleaves and first blank as noted, some light spotting, small losses at spine tips, rear joint tender. First edition of the "Montgomerie Charter" - the finest production from the press of John Peter Zenger which was delayed by his imprisonment and famous libel trial. This newly conceived city charter is named for New York Governor John Montgomerie, who had died in office in 1731. As was the custom of the time, Montgomerie was succeeded for just over a year by Councilman Rip Van Dam until the arrival of a newly appointed Colonial Governor, William Cosby (Van Dam was the last Dutchman to possess such a high post during the period of English rule). Cosby arrived in New York in 1732 after having been removed from the governorship of the Island of Minorca because of scandal. Known for his short temper, Cosby was immediately offended by his salary and the gratuity given to him to help influence the repeal of a sugar bill. Further, in an act that turned the populace against him, Cosby attempted to keep a portion of Van Dam's salary from the interim period, which was refused. Cosby then unleashed a storm of litigation against Van Dam that in turn led to Cosby's manipulation of the Supreme Court and his removal of its Chief Justice. Naturally, the people of New York City were quite displeased with Cosby, and many hoped a newspaper might be able to expose him. The New York Weekly Gazette, the city's first newspaper begun in 1725 by William Bradford was typically just two pages in length and printed mostly foreign news and advertisements, but as the popular opinion of Cosby sank the conservative Bradford dared not criticize him in print. In the fall of 1733, John Peter Zenger, who had apprenticed under Bradford and was New York City's second printer, was called upon to create a newspaper that would rouse the people against Cosby and The New York Weekly Journal was born. The radical paper caused great excitement in the city and was wildly popular, but alas, as prepartations for this book were being made, libel charges were brought against Zenger by Cosby. A ten month imprisonment and trial ensued before Zenger was found not guilty. The case remains a landmark of freedom of the press for its argument that defamatory statements are not libelous if they can be proven true. Zenger reported on his own case in his newspaper and in the August 1735 wrote "The Printer, now having got his liberty again, designs God willing to Finish and Publish the Charter of the City of New-York next week." In 1686, Governor Thomas Dongan delivered New York City's first charter, which contained special and very liberal privileges and immunities for New York City unequalled in other colonial cities. This charter was published by Bradford in 1694 and again in 1719. The call to revise and expand the City Charter came in 1730, under the governorship of Montgomerie. The charter was put into law by the New York General Assembly in 1732. Zenger had been called upon to print the charter at that time but the project was delayed by his arrest and trial. Zenger completed the project in late 1735 and it is considered the finest work of his press as seen in the elegantly typeset title page. Cosby died in 1736 and a new era of New York politics began under George Clarke governor until the arrival of George Clinton in 1743. The Montgomerie Charter would stand through the revo
NEW YORK - MONTGOMERIE CHARTER] The Charter of the City of New-York; Printed by Order of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City Aforesaid. To which is Annexed, the Act of the General Assembly Confirming the Same . New York: John Peter Zenger, 1735. First edition, known as the "Montgomerie Charter." Red morocco, the covers ruled in gilt, the spine tooled and lettered in gilt with raised bands. 11 7/8 x 18 cm (30 x 18 cm); 52 pp.; Signatures: A-M^(2) [N](1) (lacking first blank pi1, p. 12-13 misnumbered 10-11). Stamp to title and verso, upper cover detached, lacking front free endpaper, flyleaves and first blank as noted, some light spotting, small losses at spine tips, rear joint tender. First edition of the "Montgomerie Charter" - the finest production from the press of John Peter Zenger which was delayed by his imprisonment and famous libel trial. This newly conceived city charter is named for New York Governor John Montgomerie, who had died in office in 1731. As was the custom of the time, Montgomerie was succeeded for just over a year by Councilman Rip Van Dam until the arrival of a newly appointed Colonial Governor, William Cosby (Van Dam was the last Dutchman to possess such a high post during the period of English rule). Cosby arrived in New York in 1732 after having been removed from the governorship of the Island of Minorca because of scandal. Known for his short temper, Cosby was immediately offended by his salary and the gratuity given to him to help influence the repeal of a sugar bill. Further, in an act that turned the populace against him, Cosby attempted to keep a portion of Van Dam's salary from the interim period, which was refused. Cosby then unleashed a storm of litigation against Van Dam that in turn led to Cosby's manipulation of the Supreme Court and his removal of its Chief Justice. Naturally, the people of New York City were quite displeased with Cosby, and many hoped a newspaper might be able to expose him. The New York Weekly Gazette, the city's first newspaper begun in 1725 by William Bradford was typically just two pages in length and printed mostly foreign news and advertisements, but as the popular opinion of Cosby sank the conservative Bradford dared not criticize him in print. In the fall of 1733, John Peter Zenger, who had apprenticed under Bradford and was New York City's second printer, was called upon to create a newspaper that would rouse the people against Cosby and The New York Weekly Journal was born. The radical paper caused great excitement in the city and was wildly popular, but alas, as prepartations for this book were being made, libel charges were brought against Zenger by Cosby. A ten month imprisonment and trial ensued before Zenger was found not guilty. The case remains a landmark of freedom of the press for its argument that defamatory statements are not libelous if they can be proven true. Zenger reported on his own case in his newspaper and in the August 1735 wrote "The Printer, now having got his liberty again, designs God willing to Finish and Publish the Charter of the City of New-York next week." In 1686, Governor Thomas Dongan delivered New York City's first charter, which contained special and very liberal privileges and immunities for New York City unequalled in other colonial cities. This charter was published by Bradford in 1694 and again in 1719. The call to revise and expand the City Charter came in 1730, under the governorship of Montgomerie. The charter was put into law by the New York General Assembly in 1732. Zenger had been called upon to print the charter at that time but the project was delayed by his arrest and trial. Zenger completed the project in late 1735 and it is considered the finest work of his press as seen in the elegantly typeset title page. Cosby died in 1736 and a new era of New York politics began under George Clarke governor until the arrival of George Clinton in 1743. The Montgomerie Charter would stand through the revo
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Create an alert![NEW YORK - MONTGOMERIE CHARTER] The Charter of the City of New-York...](https://doyle.com/sites/default/files/styles/auction_slider/public/images/lots/2014-11-24/1009247.jpg?itok=drQOUiAs "Source: Doyle New York - Auctioneers & Appraisers")
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