[COMPLETE SET OF THE JOURNALS OF CONGRESS CONTAINING FIRST PRINTINGS OF THE PROCEEDINGS FROM SEPTEMBER 1774 TO NOVEMBER 1788]

[Philadelphia: Aitken (vols. 1-2), Dunlap (vols. 3, 9-13) and Claypoole (vols. 4-8), 1788. Thirteen volumes. All but the first volume bound in contemporary paper-covered boards, the first bound in modern paper in an antique style. Bindings, paginations and individual condition reports given below. Housed in uniform brown cloth clamshell cases, gilt morocco spine labels. Bookplate of collector, Michael Zinman on all front pastedowns or front flyleaf, and inside front cover of clamshell cases. A complete set of the first editions of the Journals of Congress, including all indices and appendices. These Journals contain the most vital documents from the Revolutionary period through the end of the Confederacy, and culminate with the adoption of the Federal Constitution in 1788. They are an essential basis for any comprehensive collection of the Revolution and early National period. A complete set of the Journals of the Continental Congress is remarkably difficult to assemble. The present set is further extraordinary as it is comprised entirely of first printings of the uniform edition of the Journals of Congress, without any of the later New York printings, or the later printings by Folwell. Finally, the set is complete with all indices and appendices, which are often wanting.

On Sept. 26, 1776, Congress had authorized Robert Aitken to reprint the two congressional journals that had appeared, in effect, as occasional publications "and to continue to print the same." With the loss of Aitken's press in the fall of Philadelphia, this responsibility devolved to John Dunlap and David Claypoole. A tradition had already been established by the separate publication of the Journals of the first and second Continental Congresses in 1774 and 1775. The first volume of this series, begun after the Declaration of Independence, reprinted those journals, and was issued concurrently with the second volume, both appearing from the press of Robert Aitken in 1777. The second volume included a printing of the Declaration. The volumes issued thus cover the entire span of the Continental Congress, beginning in 1774, through the Revolutionary years, and on to the period from the Peace in 1783 to the adoption of the Constitution. The final session sat through November 1788, and the new federal government began in April 1789.

The set consists of the following:

1) Volume I, September 5, 1774 to January 1, 1776. Philadelphia: R. Aitken, 1777. [2],310pp. Modern tan paper stiff wrappers and paper backstrip in an antique style, matching the contemporary bindings of the rest of the volumes. EVANS 15683.

2) Volume II, for the Year 1776. Philadelphia: R. Aitken, 1777. [2],513,[23]pp. Original green paper-covered boards, paper backstrip. Minor foxing. Untrimmed. The rare issue with Aitken's imprint, one of a few known complete copies. This copy belonged to Abraham Whipple, a Commodore in the Revolutionary Navy. In 1772, he sank the first British ship of the American Revolution, the schooner Gaspee. The first to unfurl the Star-Spangled Banner in London, Whipple was also the first to sail an ocean-going vessel 2,000 miles downriver from Ohio to the Caribbean, which opened trade for the Northwest Territory. EVANS 15684.

3) Volume III, January 1, 1777 to January 1, 1778. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, [1778]. 603,[1],xxii,[12]pp. Complete, with the general index to vol. 1 as issued with this volume, usually lacking. Original drab boards, paper backstrip (mostly perished). Titlepage detached. Untrimmed. EVANS 16138.

4) Volume IV, January 1, 1778 to January 1, 1779. Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, [1779]. [2],748,[2],lxxxix,[1],[4]pp. Includes 4pp. Appendix in the rear. Original blue-green paper-covered boards, paper backstrip. Some scuffing to edges, minor soiling. EVANS 16584.

5) Volume V, January 1, 1779 to January 1, 1780. Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, 1782. 464,[16],lxxiv,[2]pp. Original blue paper- covered boards, paper backstrip (partially perished). Untrimmed and partially unopened. EVANS 17766.

6) Volume VI, January 1, 1780 to January 1, 1781. Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, [1781]. 403,[3],xxviii,[4]pp. Includes Appendix in the rear. Original drab boards, modern paper backstrip in matching style. Minor marginal worming in the gutter of the last several leaves, which also have some dampstaining. Untrimmed. The first issue bound from the monthly parts. EVANS 17392.

7) Volume VII, for the Year 1781. Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, 1781. 522,[4],[2],lxxix,[1]pp. Original blue paper- covered boards, modern paper backstrip in matching style. Contemporary ownership signature of George Turner on front pastedown and Henry Turner on titlepage. Untrimmed and partially unopened. Caption title of general index with volume misnumbered VIII, as called for in the first issue. EVANS 17767.

8) Volume VIII, November 1782 to November 1783. Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, 1783. 483,[1],xxxvi pp. Original blue paper-covered boards, modern paper backstrip in matching style. Minor staining to boards, some edge wear. Contemporary ownership signature of George Turner on front pastedown and Henry Turner on titlepage. Minor foxing. Untrimmed and mostly unopened. EVANS 18266.

9) Volume IX, November 1783 to June 1784. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, [1784]. [bound with:] ...June 1784 to August 1784. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1784. 317,[1],xviii; 47,[1]pp. With the rare addendum with separate title. Original blue paper-covered boards, manuscript spine title. Minor staining, some chipping to spine. Mild very occasional foxing. Untrimmed. EVANS 18840, 18841.

10) Volume X, November 1784 to November 1785. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1785. 162,164-332,334-368,[1],xxvi pp., as issued. Original blue paper-covered boards, paper backstrip (spine paper perished), manuscript spine title. Some abrading to boards. Untrimmed and mostly unopened. EVANS 19316.

11) Volume XI (title incorrectly reads Volume XII, as issued), November 1785 to November 1786. [Philadelphia]: John Dunlap, [1786]. 267,[1],xvi pp. Original blue paper- covered boards and paper backstrip (spine paper perished). Minor staining to boards. Front hinge cracked after titlepage. Contemporary ownership signature of Samuel F. Meredith on first text leaf. Untrimmed. Meredith was a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress. Washington then appointed him Treasurer of the United States in 1789, a position Meredith held until his retirement in 1801. EVANS 20068.

12) Volume XII, November 1786 to November 1787. [Philadelphia or New York]: Published by Order of the Congress, 1787. 255,[1],[10]pp. Original blue paper-covered boards, paper backstrip, manuscript spine title. Spine ends chipped, mild soiling to boards. Expert repair to top margin of titlepage, just touching the first word of the title. Minor occasional foxing, light marginal staining. Untrimmed. EVANS 20772.

13) Volume XIII, November 1787 to November 1788. [Philadelphia]: John Dunlap, [1788]. 170,xcviii,[2],xi,[1]pp. Original blue paper- covered boards, modern paper backstrip in matching style. Light soiling to boards. Minor marginal soiling to text. Untrimmed and mostly unopened. EVANS 21526.

The Journals are one of the most vital records of the Revolutionary and Confederation periods. A foundational document of the American Republic. DAB XI, p.327. MATYAS, DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 77-09A. REESE, REVOLUTIONARY HUNDRED 48.