Texas | First edition of the Journals of the 1845 Constitutional Convention

Texas

Journals of the Convention, Assembled at the City of Austin on the Fourth of July 1845, for the Purpose of Framing a Constitution for the State of Texas. Austin: Miner & Cruger, Printers to the Convention, 1845

12mo (200 x 132 mm). Title-page; a few signatures heavily browned, otherwise scattered foxing and staining, some marginalia in pencil, owner's inscription to title-page. In contemporary polished calf, spine with morocco label lettered in gilt; front board detached, rear board nearly detached, spine significantly chipped with loss at foot, boards worn and stained at edges. In brown quarter morocco slipcase, with folding chemise.

The rare first edition of the Journals of the 1845 Constitutional Convention, at which the first constitution of the State of Texas was adopted. In addition to the complete, final text of the constitution, the volume includes all of the speeches from the debates at the Texas Convention. "This Convention which adopted the first constitution of the State of Texas is second in importance only to the convention of March 1836, which drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. Its record, as given in the Journals ... is one of the indispensable sources for the history of Texas" (Streeter). 

REFERENCE

Streeter, Texas 638; Raines, p. 231; Sabin 94978