Journals of the United States Continental Congress

A collection of seven volumes of the Journals of Congress, including Volumes II – V and VII – IX.

• Sold as a set of 7.
• John Dunlap (American).
• David C. Claypoole (American).
• First editions, mixed.

Volume II: Journals of Congress [Containing the Proceedings from January 1, 1776, to January 1, 1777]

• Philadelphia: R. Aitken, 1777.
• [2], 513 pages, [22], [1].
• Octavo.
• First edition, limited to 532 copies.
• Bound in early 19th century black calf, tooled with spine banded with embossed gilt lettering.

Extensive pencil emendation on the ffep from prior owner William Hunt (whose name appears in ink on the front paste-down). Aitken was authorized by Congress to undertake the printing of the Journals in September of 1776, and the first volume contained reprints of his “cartridge paper” editions, which were released in installment and covered the first four months of 1776. The present volume includes the first publication of the Journals from June through December. Only 532 copies were printed before Congress was forced to flee Philadelphia in late 1777, and many copies were presumed to have been destroyed by British forces.

Volume III: Journals of Congress; Containing the Proceedings from January 1, 1777 to January 1, 1778.

• Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1778.
• 603 pages, xxii, [10], [4], [2].
• Octavo.
• First edition.
• Original boards, quires exposed.

Contains the rare 10 page index to Volume I.

Vol IV: Journals of Congress; Containing the Proceedings from January 1st, 1778, to January 1st, 1779.

• Volume IV. Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, 1779.
• 748 pages, [2], lxxxix, [7].
• Octavo.
• First edition.
• Original boards with later paper label on spine and handwritten lettering.

Vol V: Journals of Congress. Containing the Proceedings [fro]m January 1st, 1779, To January 1st, 1780. Published by Order of Congress.

• Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, 1782.
• 464 pages, [16], lxxiv, [6].
• Octavo.
• Second edition.

A later corrected edition printed by Claypoole in 1782, authorized by Congress in 1780 due to the scarcity of the initial release.

Vol VII: Journals of Congress, And of the United States in Congress Assembled. For the Year 1781. Published by Order of Congress.

• Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, 1781.
• 522 pages, [6], lxxix, [3].
• Octavo.
• First edition.
• Original boards with paper spine and handwritten lettering.

Vol VIII: Journal of the United States in Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings from the First Monday in November 1782, To the First Monday in November, 1783.

• Philadelphia: David C. Claypoole, 1783.
• 483 pages, [5].
• Octavo.
• First edition.

Vol IX: Journal of the United States in Congress Assembled: Containing the Proceedings from the Third Day of November, 1783, to the Third Day of June, 1784.

• Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1784.
• 317 pages, [3].
• Octavo.
• First edition.
• Original boards with paper spine label and handwritten lettering.