(Pennsylvania. Constitution)

The Constitution of the Common-Wealth of Pennsylvania, as Established by the General Convention Elected for that Purpose, and Held at Philadelphia, July 15th, 1776, and Continued by Adjournments to September 28, 1776. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1776

8vo in half-sheets (7 /4 x 4 3/4 in.; 195 x 121 mm). Tiny dampstain at top margin of first gathering. Half calf antique.

Acquisition: William Reese

Evans 14979; Hildeburn 3350; Sabin 60014

First edition of the first independent state constitution issued after the Declaration of Independence. Although the Pennsylvania constitution was not ratified until 28 September 1776, the state's constitutional convention, presided over by Benjamin Franklin, first convened on 15 July—just nine days after the Declaration of Independence was issued. The convention produced a document that embraced direct popular rule; the charter was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr. Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Franklin.

Like the Declaration, the Pennsylvania constitution began with a preamble that inveighed against George III and his unlawful war against the Colonies. Some of the innovations of the constitution included voting franchise for all tax-paying freemen, without property qualifications; a unicameral legislature, with members elected to one-year terms; a thirteen-member Supreme Executive Council to administer the government; and a judiciary appointed by the legislature for seven-year terms, and removable at any time.

Rare: apart from a copy offered in the Eberstadt's 1964 Constitution catalogue, evidently the only copy in the trade for the last half century was sold by us, 13 December 2011, lot 342.