Journal of the Continental Congress

Journal of the Proceedings of the Congress, Held at Philadelphia. September 5, 1774. Philadelphia: Printed by William and Thomas Bradford, 1774

8vo (8 1/2 x 4 7/8 in.; 215 x 125 mm). Woodcut title vignette of 12 hands holding the column and cap of liberty which stands on the Magna Carta surrounded by the motto Hanc Tuemur, Hac Nitimur, ("This we defend, this we lean upon"); without the half-title, a few leaves browned, some marginal spotting. Later three-quarter morocco; extremities worn.

Michael Zinman (bookplate, and typed letter signed by Edwin Wolf II to him on the various issues)

Evans 13737; Howes J263; Lilly/Powers 33; not in Hildeburn or Sabin, both of whom cite the second issue only.

First edition, first issue of the first official journal of the Continental Congress. "It had been resolved in June of 1774 that it was necessary to call a meeting of all the Committees of Correspondence throughout the Colonies to discuss the distressing differences between Great Britain and America, and to take appropriate united action" (Lilly/Powers). The first session of the Continental Congress sat at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia 5 September–26 October 1774. The principal achievements of the first Congress—all printed in this first Journal—were the adoption of a Declaration of Rights, Address to the People of Great Britain, and an Address to the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, and the resolution to reassemble 10 May 1775 if colonial rights and liberties had not been restored.

The present first issue is scarce; a more common second issue of the same year added a 12-page Petition of the Continental Congress to the King, and a few slight variations in the printing (e.g. adding M to the roman numeral imprint date).