Continental Congress | With an early printing of the Declaration of Independence

Continental Congress

Journals of Congress. Containing the Proceedings from January 1, 1776, to January 1, 1777. Volume II. York-Town: John Dunlap, 1778

8vo (203 x 127 mm). Browning, foxing, and staining throughout, occasionally strong and more pronounced. Navy cloth chemise and morocco-backed slipcase lettered gilt. 

Second issue (i.e., Dunlap's imprint but incorporating Aitken's sheets), with an early printing of the Declaration of Independence.

This scarce volume of the Journals of Congress, covering the pivotal year of 1776, has a unique printing history. The first 424 pages were printed in Philadelphia in 1777 by Robert Aitken. The project was interrupted when the British marched into Philadelphia on 26 September 1777.  Congress fled, and after a day in Lancaster, established itself in York, Pennsylvania. Aitken escaped with some of his finished work but had to abandon his press. On the other hand, John Dunlap, the original printer of the Declaration of Independence, managed to remove his press. In May 1778, Congress hired Dunlap to complete the reprint of their 1776 journals. This particular volume presumably came out between Dunlap's appointment on 2 May and the return of Congress to Philadelphia in July 1778. 

Because of Dunlap's name on the title-page, it has often been erroneously thought that this volume contains a printing of the Declaration by Dunlap, when it in fact appears as part of the original Aitken printing (pp. 241–246).

REFERENCE

Evans 15685; 16137; Hildeburn 3727

PROVENANCE

William J. Bermers (ownership inscriptions on title-page and verso)