Great Britain. Laws & Statutes (William & Mary, Anne, George III)

Collection of 7 issues of laws including the Stamp Act, its Repeal and Indemnification, and others relating to the American colonies. London: various printers, 1694, 1704, 1765-1778



7 numbers, folio (12 x 8 in.; 305 x 204 mm), woodcut royal arms on each title, disbound; mostly clean save for the last, in a red half-morocco clamshell box, one brown and one cream cloth folding-cases.

On the Stamp Act: BL/American War of Independence 2; Church 1054; Howes A285; Sabin 1606

One issue soiled with stain in upper left corner, otherwise clean
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First edition. The infamous Stamp Act, which levied duties on a wide range of legal and commercial documents, was intended not only to raise revenue, but, in the words of British Treasury minister Thomas Whateley, to establish "the Right of Parliament to lay an internal Tax upon the Colonies." To the colonists, however, it was "taxation without representation" and their protests led to its repeal and indemnification for damages suffered from its enforcement. A complete list of the acts offered here, follows:

1. William & Mary. Anno Regni ... Quinto & Sexto ...[An Act for Granting to Their Majesties several Duties upon Vellum, Parchment and Paper for Four Years, towards Carrying on the War against France]. London: Charles Bill & executrix of Thomas Newcomb, 1694
2. Anne. Anno Regni ... Tertio & Quarto ... [An Act for Encouraging the Importation of Naval-Stores from Her Majesties Plantations in America]. London: Charles Bill & executrix of Thomas Newcomb, 1704
3. George III. Anno Regni ... Quinto ... [An Act for granting and applying certain Stamp Duties, and other Duties, in the British Colonies and Plantations in America ...]. London: Mark Baskett and the Assigns of Robert Baskett, 1765
4. George III. Anno Regni ... Sexto ... [An Act to repeal an Act ... granting and applying certain Stamp Duties ...]. London: Mark Baskett & the Assigns of Robert Baskett, 1766
5. George III. Anno Regni ... Sexto ... [An Act for indemnifying Persons who have incurred certain Penalties inflicted by an Act of the last session ... for granting certain Stamp Duties ...]. London: Mark Baskett and the Assigns of Robert Baskett, 1766
6. George III. Anno Regni ... Decimo Quarto ...[An Act for further continuing Two Acts ... for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army ...]. London: Charles Eyre and William Strahan, 1774
7. George III. Anno Regni ... Decimo Octavo ... [An Act for repealing an Act ... regulating the Government of the Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England]. London: Charles Eyre & William Strahan, 1778; soiled, formerly folded, stain in upper right corner.