Beschreibung:

Title: Acts Passed at a Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, in the year M,DCC,LXXXIX - 1st, 2nd & 3rd Sessions Author: Place: New York Publisher: Printed by Francis Childs and John Swaine Printers to the United States Date: 1789-1790 Description: Three volumes bound in two. Comprises: Acts Passed at a Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, in the year M,DCC,LXXXIX and of the independence of the United States, the thirteenth. Being the acts passed at the first session of the First Congress of the United States... xiv, [15]-93, [1] pp. [bound with]: Acts Passed at the Second Session of the Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of New York on Monday the Fourth of January in the year M,DCC,XC and of the Independence of the United States, the fourteenth. 226, [ccxxvii]-ccxxviii pp. Acts Passed at the Third Session of the Congress of the United States of America, Begun and Held at the City of Philadelphia on Monday, the Sixth of December, in the Year M,DCC,XC; and of the Independence of the United States, the fourteenth. [2], [227]-279 pp. The first two works are bound together, the third separately. (folio) 29.7x19.2 cm (11¾x7½"), period half calf & marbled boards, expertly rebacked with leather; modern half-morocco clamshell box. The extraordinarily rare first edition of the first official publication of the acts of the first Congress, including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, a foundation work in the history of American government. One of only 600 copies printed for official distribution to the members of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal and state governments, none intended for the general public. Besides the new Constitution and the twelve articles of the Bill of Rights (only ten of which were ratified), the publication contains all the acts passed at the first Congress, such as the establishment of the Departments of State, War, and Treasury; the placement of duty on goods, wares and merchandise imported into the United States; establishing salaries and compensation for the President, Vice President, members of the Senate and House, judges of the Supreme Court, and other government functionaries; and other key provisions in establishing the government. This copy without the eleven-page index to the first session, as often is the case. Bookplates of the Massachusetts General Court in each volume. Small library stamps to title pages of the first and third sessions. Evans 22189; 22952; 23845. Lot Amendments Condition: Some wear to covers, with expert restoration; minor wear to margins of first title page; some light browning and dampstaining to several leaves, otherwise clean and wide-margined, very good or better. Item number: 274390