Acts of Assembly Passed in the Province of New-York, from 1691

Item #78966

(NEW YORK). Acts of Assembly Passed in the Province of New-York, from 1691, to 1725. Examined and Compared with the Originals in the Secretary's Office. New-York: William Bradford, 1726. Folio. [10],124[i.e. 128],121-252,261-319,[1, blank],20,[6]pp. (mispaginated, as issued). Woodcut arms of King George I on the titlepage. Contemporary calf, boards ruled and tooled in blind, raised bands. Wear and soiling to boards, a few spots of loss where leather was stamped, corners bumped, joints cracked (but binding is still strong), small wormhole to spine. Occasional foxing and tanning throughout. Bookplates of Henry F. DePuy and William Smith on front pastedowns (see below), typed note laid in, pencil inscriptions on front free endpaper and titlepage, occasional marginal annotations in a contemporary hand throughout. Very good. In a blue cloth chemise with blue half morocco and cloth slipcase, spine gilt with red morocco gilt label. Evans 2785. ESTC W11515. Tower 613. The Henry F. DePuy copy of Bradford's important early printing of the New York Acts of Assembly, collecting all legislation passed between 1691 and 1725. Included are acts "for quieting and settling the Disorders that have lately happened within this Province" (1691), "for restraining and punishing Privateers and Pyrates" (1693 and 1698), and "against Jesuites and Popish Priests" (1700), as well as numerous acts "for Regulating Slaves" and one for "Baptizing them" (1706). A law of 1712 is "An Act for Preventing, Suppressing and Punishing the Conspiracy and Insurrection of Negroes and Other Slaves," and a law of 1716 prevents the "Selling and giving of Rum or other Strong Liquors to the Indians." Other acts relate to Queen Anne's War as well as the continuing conflicts with the French and Indians. The final twenty pages contain additional ordinances for "Regulating & Establishing Fees" for various public officials and for "Regulating the Recording of Deeds and other Writings." William Bradford (1663-1752) was the "pioneering printer of the English middle colonies" (DAB) - the first in both Pennsylvania and New York. He originally settled in Pennsylvania, where he began operating a printing press in 1685 and a bookstore in 1688. Controversies within the Quaker community, with Bradford supporting the dissident, George Keith, led to the temporary seizure of his ty.

Price: $12,500.00