?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 15,000 - $ 25,000
(LAW.) Journals of Congress (the Elbridge Gerry-Edward Everett set.) 13 volumes. 8vo, modern ½ calf over marbled boards in period style; minor foxing and toning, occasional minor dampstaining, a few early ink and pencil marks in margins; provenance inscription by Edward Everett on first front free endpaper, with his armorial bookplates laid down on all front pastedowns. Philadelphia: Folwell's Press, 1800-1801
The journals of the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1788 were printed sporadically by three different publishers over the course of a decade. Their limited availability hindered the work of Congress. This Folwell's Press edition was the first complete single printing. It was enabled by a 1799 resolution of Congress subscribing for 400 sets; this resolution appears on the second leaf of each volume under a patriotic woodcut.
Virtually every important topic from the formation of the United States is discussed in these volumes. The Declaration of Independence appears in Volume II on pages 229-233; the list of signers is corrected in an unidentified hand circa 1817, and another early owner has underlined "the laws of nature, and, of nature's God" in pencil. The Articles of Confederation appear in Volume III (pages 396-401); the Treaty of Paris in Volume IX (pages 19-25); and debates over the Constitution in the final volume.
Evans 38750; Sabin 15545; Shaw & Shoemaker 1487-1490.One other complete set traced at auction since 2005.
Provenance: Inscribed on the first front free endpaper in Edward Everett's hand is "This copy of the Journals of the Continental Congress belonged to Elbridge Gerry, Vice-President of the United States with President Madison in his second term--E.E."; Edward Everett's armorial bookplates laid down on renewed front pastedowns. Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) served in Congress from 1776 to 1780, and again from 1783 to 1785; he is frequently named in these volumes. He was later governor of Massachusetts (1810-1812) and then vice president under Madison from 1813 until his death. The term "Gerrymander" was coined in his honor during the 1812 Massachusetts elections. Edward Everett (1794-1865) was one of the most renowned orators of his day; he served in Congress from 1825 to 1835, as governor of Massachusetts from 1836 to 1840, and briefly as Secretary of State in 1852 and 1853; his two-hour oration famously served as President Lincoln's opening act for the Gettysburg Address.
