• 14 • EXTRAORDINARILY RARE FIRST ISSUE OF THE FIRST FULL ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, THE 1774 JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS…, ONE OF THE EARLIEST PUBLICATIONS OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT 14(CONTINENTAL CONGRESS). Journal of the Proceedings of the Congress, Held at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. Philadelphia, 1774. Octavo, contemporary full brown calf rebacked; custom box. $65,000 First edition, first issue, of the first official journal of the Continental Congress, one of the earliest publications of the American government, “a book of the greatest rarity.” Also presenting for the first time an attempt to design a seal to “represent emblematically a united nation” in America. An excellent copy in contemporary calf with half title. In response to the Coercive or Intolerable Acts, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia from September 5 through October 26, 1774. Their objective was to compose a statement of colonial rights, identify the British government’s violation of those rights, and provide a plan that would convince Britain to restore those rights. This is the first publication of the full account of these extraordinary proceedings, published immediately after the adjournment of Congress. “On that same busy day after Congress’ adjournment, October 27… [the Bradfords] issued what is today a book of the greatest rarity, Journal of the Proceedings of the Congress” (Powell, Books of a New Nation, 45). Foremost in the proceedings was the “Declaration of Rights,” including: “life, liberty, and property”; the rights and liberties granted to English citizens; representation and participation in legislation and government, especially in issues of taxation and internal policy; trial by jury; and “a right peaceably to assemble, consider of their grievances, and petition the King,” etc. These important rights and liberties were the defining issues of the revolution and became the foundation of the Declaration of Independence. This first issue is quite rare. The second (and more common) issue of the Journal contains two additional documents, General Gage’s letter and the Petition to the King, which were separately printed by the Bradfords early in 1775. Howes J263. Evans 13737. Small perforated stamp of Library of Congress on title page, marked duplicate on verso. Contemporary owner inscription on half title. Only occasional light foxing and embrowning. A bit of expert restoration to corners of handsome contemporary calf. A most desirable copy of an American Revolutionary landmark of the utmost rarity and importance.
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