(AMERICAN REVOLUTION) First printings of the Townshend Acts

Sale 2368 - Lot 19

Price Realized: $ 7,500

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 2,500 - $ 3,500

(AMERICAN REVOLUTION.) First printings of the Townshend Acts which helped trigger the Revolution. Folio, disbound as 7 pamphlets; minimal wear. London, 1767-68

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Additional Details

Includes the parliamentary printings of the five acts generally known as the Townshend Acts, and for good measure a pair of minor acts that are sometimes included in the group. The main acts are generally known as the Commissioners of Customs Act, the Revenue Act of 1767, the Indemnity Act, the New York Restraining Act, and the Vice Admiralty Court Act. They are more fully named "An Act to Enable His Majesty to Put the Customs, and other Duties, in the British Dominions in America . . . under the Management of Commissioners" (1767, Cap. XLI, pages [561]-566) "An Act for Granting Certain Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America" (1767, Cap. XLVI, pages [653]-664) "An Act for Taking Off the Inland Duty of One Shilling per Pound Weight upon all Black and Singlo Teas Consumed in Great Britain" (1767, Cap. LVI, pages [861]-870) "An Act for Restraining and Prohibiting the Governor, Council, and House . . . of New York, until Provision Shall have been Made for Furnishing the King's Troops" (1767, Cap. LIX, pages [889]-894) "An Act for the More Easy and Effectual Recovery of the Penalties and Forfeitures Inflicted by the Acts of Parliament relating to the Trade . . . in America" (1768, Cap. XXII, pages [381]-384). Sometimes listed with these, and also included in this lot, are "An Act to Continue Several Laws . . . Relating to the Clandestine Running of Goods" (1767, Cap. XXXV, pages [441]-446) and "An Act for Further Continuing . . . an Act for Punishing Mutiny and Desertion" (1767, Cap. LV, pages [857]-860). We are not aware of any previous sets of the Townshend Acts being offered at auction, outside of complete bound runs of parliamentary proceedings.