UNDER CONSTRUCTION
RARE AMERICANA AND ANTIQUARIAN LAW FOR SALE
In the coming weeks, Statutesandstories.com will be listing antiquarian legal texts which are for sale online.
This page will also contain links to some of Statutesandstories.com’s favorite antiquarian book dealers.
Of course, any purchases would be between the buyer and the specific book dealer. Statutesandstories.com is not a party to any transactions, but may receive referral fees or other compensation from book dealers and websites.
Over time, as more items are sold it is believed that this website may serve as a catalogue of sorts for antiquarian legal texts.
Alexander Hamilton bobble heads are the perfect gift for the holidays and can be purchased for $21.95. George Washington and others from the founding generation are also available.
SOLD for $3,500
John Adams’ first edition of his 1787 A Defense of the Constitutional Government of the United States of America (volume II).
Click here for a discussion of Adams’ Defense and other writings, including this very rare and historic work by our Second President, which provided an instrumental blueprint for the U.S. Constitution.
FOR SALE ($2139.76)
1794 Acts Passed at the Third Congress of the United States (Rare, official copy embossed with a unique label for the House of Representatives). Published in Philadelphia by Francis Childs and John Swaine in 1794. Offered for sale on Abebooks.com for $2,139.76.
Note that the Third Congress met in Philadelphia while the Capital was being built in Washington, D.C.
Click here for a discussion of publishers Francis Childs and John Swaine. Click here to read about George Washington’s personal copy of the Laws of the First Congress, also published by Childs and Swaine.
Click here to view or purchase using the following link toAbebooks.com
SOLD for $325
Acts of the Fifth Congress from 1797 – 1799 (includes the Alien and Sedition Acts, the Act Creating the Marines, and the Act Creating the Navy).
Click here for a discussion of the Alien and Sedition Acts. Click here for a discussion of the Act Creating the Marines. Click here for a discussion of the Act Creating the Navy.
FOR SALE ($349.95)
1804 Laws of the State of New York (volume 3). Offered at $349.95 on ebay (but accepting “best offers”).
Click here to view the item for sale at the following Ebay link: 1804 LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK Vol III | eBay
FOR SALE ($499)
1805 – Laws of Massachusetts (3 volume set, printed for the State, by Manning & Loring, 1805. First edition.)
Click here to view the item for sale at the following Ebay link
1805 1st ed Laws of Massachusetts Americana Boston | eBay
Seller’s description: Private and special status of the commonwealth of Massachusetts : from the year 1780, to the close of the session of the General Court, begun and held on the last Wednesday in May, A.D. 1805 : with an appendix, containing such statutes, of the above description, passed before the year 1780, as are referred to in acts passed since, and including the temporary acts, made perpetual, March 7, 1797. This early 19th-century set is a collection of laws and acts passed by the Massachusetts legislation on a variety of topics, most notably laws on establishing new towns and developing offices within a town’s government.
SOLD $79.95
1807 The Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (volume 2). Published by Isaiah Thomas. Listed for sale on Ebay.
FOR SALE ($895)
Acts of Parliament (13 volumes of the Statues at Large from 1777-1819). Offered at $895 on ebay (but accepting “best offers”).
Click here to view the item for sale at the following Ebay link: The Statutes at Large United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1777-1819 | eBay
FOR SALE ($250)
1808 The Laws of the State of Vermont: Digest and Compiled, Including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Vermont Constitution through the year 1807.
Sold by Old Florida Book Shop, FABA, ABAA, ILAB for $250.
First Edition, two volumes bound as one: 503, 549pp. Original full calf; gilt ruled red spine label. In uncommonly good condition: a well-maintained, tight, clean & supple copy; Octavo; Additional images and further information provided upon request. Bookseller Inventory # 3611.
Click here to view or purchase using the following Abebook link.
FOR SALE ($46)
Henings’ Statutes at Large of Virginia, 1st edition published in 1820 (Volume IV covering the years 1711-1736). Offered at $46 on ebay (but accepting “best offers”).
Click here to view the item for sale at the following Ebay link: William Waller Hening / Statutes at Large Being Collection of all 1820 1st ed | eBay
FOR SALE ($450)
1834 – The Debates and Proceedings in the (First) Congress of the United States with Appendix (otherwise known as “The Annals of Congress”) – Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and all the laws of a Public Nature with a Copious Index, in two volumes, for the Period from March 1, 1789 to March 3, 1791 (published by Gales and Seaton, 1834).
Click here to view or purchase using the following link to Abebooks.com.
Sold by Glenn Books, ABAA, ILAB for $450: Covers are scuffed. Front board of the first volume is almost detached, others are intact but weakened. Original red and black spine labels. These volumes chronicle the 1st Congress of the fledgling United States of America. Includes debates on the Constitution and Amendments which would become the Bill of Rights. Others sections on trade and navigation, compensation of members, and much more.
Click here to read a discussion about this these historic records of the First Congress which met in New York from 1789-1791.
SOLD $510
1829 – The Revised Laws of the State of New York, 3 volume set.
Original leather with scuffing and wear to the covers; especially along spine. Wear to head/tail of spines. Corners bumped and slightly worn. Foxing throughout. Hinges cracked but still secure. Previous owners stamp on front free endpapers. A beautiful, rare set! #FG/AB
FOR SALE ($1,500)
1796 – Laws of the First Congress, which met in New York from 1789-1791 (rare Folwell edition, compiled by Zephaniah Swift).
Click here for a discussion of this historic volume, which was one of only four official editions authorized by Congress.
Click here to view the three volume set rebound in modern calf leather with marbled boards, for sale at the following link Abebooks: The Laws of the United States of America. In three volumes
Seller’s description: Ownership signatures of John Pintard, a founder of the New York Historical Society and the Massachusetts Historical Society. He is considered “the father of historical societies in America,” according to the online Sons of Liberty Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. These volumes bear the rubberstamp of his New York Historical Society, with superimposed discard. In volume III the owner, perhaps Pintard himself, has tabbed page 345, ‘An Act for the Relief of Persons Imprisoned for Debt,’ a fate that had befallen Pintard. “The third volume though dated 1796 was not printed before 1797. Contains the acts passed by the first, second, third, and fourth Congress. This edition published under an order of the Congress of the United States, has many peculiar advantages. There is one copious, luminous Index (in Volume three), compiled by Zephaniah Swift, esq., referring to all the volumes, and comprising in itself a complete Digest of all the Laws of the United States.” Evans. FIRST EDITION. Evans 32973. Bookseller Inventory # 32408
FOR SALE ($650)
1797 – Acts Passed at the First Session of the Fifth Congress, which met in Philadelphia from 1797-1798, volume 5 (published by William Ross)
Seller’s description: Re-bound in attractive modern calf and marbled boards, with gilt-lettered morocco spine label. Occasional light toning and mild foxing, Very Good. This is a complete offering of Ross’s printing of the Acts of all three Sessions of the Fifth Congress, including the Alien & Sedition Acts and establishment of the Marine Corps, plus a treaty with the Cherokees.
FOR SALE ($575)
1791 – Laws of the Second Congress, which met in Philadelphia from 1791-1793 (rare Folwell edition, volume 2, compiled by Zephaniah Swift).
Seller’s description: Philadelphia: Published By Authority. Fair. 1796. First Edition. Full-Leather. Full leather binding with red leather embossed label on spine. Front and back boards are loosening but holding . Leather is dried and flaking, especially at edges. Text block has moderate foxing in areas but pages generally clean; light edgewear to pages plus browning on edges. Several pages are dog-earred. Printed by Richard Folwell of Philadelphia. A nice collection of founding laws, acts and resolutions from the first and second sessions of the second Congress. Includes the Act establishing the United States Mint, the appropriations bill for 1792 for the United States (all of seven leaves! ) , an act for apportioning Representatives, and compensation for President Washington. Also includes the text of a treaty with Sweden, the Armistice Declaring A Cessation of Hostilities Between the US and Great Britain, and much more. ; Volume 2 Only of a Three Volume Set; Vol. 2; 8vo 8″ – 9″ tall; 576 pp.
FOR SALE ($300)
1797 – Laws of the Fifth Congress, which met in Philadelphia from 179701798 (published by William Ross).
Seller’s description: LEATHER BOUND. B0015T0906 William Ross; Philadelphia, 1797. Hardcover. First Edition. Good, full old calf leather binding with age spotting/foxing to boards, some shelf wear, moderate rub marks/loss to spine tips/tops, abrasions to board corners, previous owner name sticker to front pastedown else unmarked, sunned pages, moderate scattered foxing throughout, some discoloration to front/back matters, cracked front/rear hinge, moisture stain to bottom corner front board and bottom corner of few pages, pulpy/dusty text block edges, without Dust wrapper. Overall in a good antiquarian condition. 8vo[octavo or approx. 6 x 9 inches], 559pp., 26 Constitution; IV, Table of Contents, indexed (48pp.). We pack securely and ship daily with delivery confirmation on every book. The picture on the listing page is of the actual book for sale. Additional Scan(s) are available for any item, please inquire. Good. First Edition.
For Sale ($1,800)
1794 – Acts passed at the Third Congress, which met in Philadelphia from 179701798 (published by Francis Childs and John Swaine).
Seller’s description: 1794. First Edition. (UNITED STATES CONGRESS). Francis Childs and John Swaine, 1794. Octavo, modern green cloth, later endpapers. $1800. First edition of the collected Acts Passed at the First Session of the Third Congress, one of only 600 copies, containing Hamilton’s controversial 1794 Carriage Act, which led to his first appearance before the Supreme Court in 1796, where he successfully argued the government’s case in Hylton v. US, “the first instance in which the Supreme Court was called upon to determine the constitutionality of a federal statute,” preceding Marbury v. Madison by seven years, this volume also featuring the important act prohibiting “the carrying on the Slave-trade from the United States,” with the owner signature of “J. Yeates” on the title page very possibly that of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Jasper Yeates, who played a key role in ending the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion. This 1st edition covers an especially dangerous time in which the fragile new government struggled to find its place in the world and saw growing internal strife between Hamiltonian Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans. Especially notable is a printing of the 1794 Carriage Act, which was proposed by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. This was the first instance where the Supreme Court was called upon to determine the constitutionality of a federal statute (Goebel, Law Practice of Alexander Hamilton. It preceded, by seven years, “Chief Justice John Marshall’s celebrated opinion in Marbury v. Madison (1803)”. This volume also contains major laws on the U.S. Mint and Post Office, on the courts and international commerce, and an “Act to prohibit the carrying on the Slave-trade from the United States to any foreign place.”
For Sale ($750)
1801 – Laws of the United States, passed at the First Session of the Sixth Congress (Washington: Printed by Samuel Harrison Smith, for Rapin, Conrad and Co.)
Seller’s description: A superb and rare volume from the early U.S. Congress, including the act authorizing the Washington Monument, The Bankruptcy Act, and an act granting the Franking privilege to Martha Washington. Of great interest in this volume are the acts relative to the death of George Washington, and in particular, the original legislation that eventually resulted in the erection of the Washington Monument, finally completed in 1885. On December 23, 1799, the House and Senate resolved “…That a Marble Monument be erected by the United States, in the Capitol, at the City of Washington; and that the family of General Washington be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it; and that the Monument be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life. And be it further resolved, That there be a funeral procession from Congress Hall to the German Lutheran Church, in honor of the memory of General George Washington. The volume also includes “An ACT further to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and France, and the dependencies thereof.” “An ACT to establish an uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States.” “An ACT for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt.” An ACT to make further provision for the removal and accommodation of the Government of the United States.” It provided that “…the President of the United States, shall be… empowered, to direct the various offices belonging to the several executive departments of the United States, to be removed to the city of Washington, at any time he shall judge proper, after the adjournment of the present session of Congress…”
For Sale ($286.16)
1794 – Laws of the United States, passed at the Third Congress, which met in Philadelphia from 1797-1798 (published by Richard Folwell).
Seller’s description: air with no dust jacket. 1796. Hardcover. This, vol III, includes a full Index for all three volumes which represents a complete digest of all the extant laws of the time. Boards detached, text block spit at pp 272/3. Provenance Morton and Thomas Carlisle. Contents in good condition, but binding is consistent with age).
This is a good way for a beginning collector to acquire an affordable copy of a truly historic book.
For Sale on eBay ($113)
The Laws of the Fourtieth Session of the New York Legislature, which includes the 1817 law gradually emancipating slaves (An Act Relating to Slaves and Servants) can be purchased on ebay from Americana Books for $113 using the following link: Laws of the State of New-York Passed at the Fortieth Session of 1817 Law 1st ed | eBay
For Sale on Ebay ($420)
ACTS PASSED AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Begun and Held at the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the Fifteenth of May, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-seven, and of the Independence of the United States, the Twenty-first.; Also present: Acts Passed at the Second Session…; …Third Session…; Articles of a Treaty between the United States of American and the Cherokee Indians; and The Constitution of the United States. Publication: Philadelphia: Printed by William Ross, 1797. Description: Philadelphia: Printed by William Ross, 1797. First Edition. old calf. Thick octavo. pp: 559; 26 Constitution; iv, Table of Contents; (48) index. Bound in old calf, blind-ruled borders, leather spine label. Half of spine label is gone, damp mark at lower portion of first and last few leaves. 8.25″ x 4.75″ Very Good. Item #039149. Provenance: Inked on free endpaper in an old hand: “New Salem Academy No. 166 / From Hon. E.A. Greenwood.”
Click here to view the item for sale at the following: Ebay link: 5th Congress United States Laws / ACTS PASSED AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE… | eBay
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