Continental Congress | One of the most fundamental documents of the American Revolution

[Continental Congress]

Journal of the Proceedings of the Congress, held at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. Philadelphia: Printed by William and Thomas Bradford, at the London Coffee House, 1774

8vo (197 x 121 mm). Bound to style in quarter 18th century russia over period marbled paper covered boards, flat spine divided into compartments with gilt double fillets, morocco lettering piece in the second, the others with a repeat decoration in gilt. Housed in full blue morocco box.

The journals of the first Continental Congress—the rare preferred issue with 144 pages of text.

The Journals of the first Continental Congress, describing meetings from 5 September to 20 Oct 1774, is one of the most fundamental documents of the American Revolution. This is the very rare issue of 144 pages, with the correctly dated state of the title-page, probably issued several months after the first (with 132 pages only, omitting the Petition to the King, and the correct date in Roman numerals).

Committees of Correspondence, responding to the Intolerable Acts passed by Parliament in the wake of the Boston Tea Party, resolved to hold a Continental Congress in June of 1774. Delegates from twelve colonies (none from Georgia) gathered in Philadelphia in the fall. It included many of the most distinguished men in America: Samuel and John Adams, Roger Sherman, John Jay, Joseph Galloway, John Dickinson, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Edmund Pendleton, and Henry Middleton, among others. The Congress succeeded in taking numerous important steps. On 14 October they adopted a Declaration of Rights, and agreed to an Association governing imports and exports and boycotting British goods. They also drafted and sent an Address to the People of Great Britain and another Address to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec. They agreed to reassemble on 10 May 1775.

This issue of the Journals adds twelve highly important pages of text, consisting of the address to King George III ("The Petition to the King") arguing the American position, asking for redress, and promising loyalty if the status quo of 1764 was restored. This text was agreed upon and voted in executive session on 1 October 1774, and likely reached England in early November. This text does not appear in the 132pp. issue, probably published in November, because it was still secret. The Petition certainly reached Lord North, but it is unclear the King ever saw it. By mid-January 1775, as the flow of events progressed and it seemed unlikely there would be a response (there never was), it was published in this issue of the Journals, said to be issued on 17-18 January 1775.

The title page for the Journal of 1774 bears the famous seal of the Congress, showing twelve hands representing the twelve participating colonies supporting a column topped with a Liberty Cap and resting on the Magna Charta.

REFERENCE:

Evans 13737; Howes J263, "aa."; Hildeburn 3036