Bill Of Rights. An early printing, executed by the printer of the Declaration of Independence

BILL OF RIGHTS

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET, AND DAILY ADVERTISER...[NO. 3333]. PHILADELPHIA: JOHN DUNLAP AND DAVID C. CLAYPOOLE, OCTOBER 6, 1789

Folio (18 1/2 x 11 1/4 in.; 470 x 286 mm). 4 pages on a bifolium, text in four columns, woodcuts of clipper ships. Disbound, with untrimmed with deckle edges. Modern cloth portfolio binding, lettered gilt on upper board.

An early printing of the Bill of Rights, executed by the printer of the Declaration of Independence

A scarce and important issue of Dunlap and Claypoole's newspaper printed, only days after Congress proposed the Bill of Rights to the state legislatures on 25 September 1789, and copies of the 12 amendments were sent out to the states on 2 October 1789.

Starting from the bottom of the first column on the third page (following a review of the acts of Congress passed on the last day of the session), the printing of the Bill of Rights is preceded by the following Preamble: "The Conventions of a number of the states having at the time of their adopting the Constitution expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence on the government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution — Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States & that the following Articles be proposed to the legislatures of the several states, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution, viz." The text of twelve articles follows, i.e. including the first two that were not ultimately ratified by the States in 1791.

Printer John Dunlap enjoyed a rather distinguished printing career. In addition to being the first to print the Declaration of Independence, Dunlap was the official printer for the Continental Congress and founded the first successful daily newspaper in 1771, the Pennsylvania Packet. In 1784, the newspaper added the second half to its name, and became the Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser, as seen here. Previously, around 1780, Dunlap had elevated his former apprentice, David C. Claypoole to partner, and the pair published this newspaper and various books and job printing for the next fifteen years. Among their many notable imprints, Dunlap & Claypoole printed the Constitution of the United States for use by the Constitutional Convention on 19 September 1787.