Important and complete 1774 Hartford printing of the proceedings of the First Continental Congress, issued only months before the outbreak of the American Revolution.
Title: Extracts from the Votes and Proceedings of the American Continental Congress, Held at Philadelphia on the 5th of September, 1774
Imprint: Philadelphia: Printed. Hartford: Re-printed by Eben. Watson, near the Great-Bridge, 1774.
Pagination: 48 pages — complete.
This pamphlet disseminated the official actions of the First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia from September 5 through October 26, 1774 in response to escalating conflict between Great Britain and the American colonies.
The Hartford printing contains the major Congressional declarations and resolutions that helped establish coordinated colonial resistance immediately before the Revolution, including material relating to colonial rights and grievances, the Continental Association, and the important Address to the Inhabitants of Quebec at the conclusion of the pamphlet.
This is not a later historical account. It is an original 1774 American printing produced while the events were unfolding, intended to circulate the proceedings of Congress among inhabitants of the colonies.
Of particular interest is a contemporary manuscript ownership inscription reading:
“Wm Douglas”
The inscription appears directly on a printed page of the pamphlet.
The book was also preserved with an old manuscript notecard and a portrait print of Colonel William Douglas (1742–1777). The accompanying note identifies the inscription as:
“signature of Col. Douglas who was a native of Northfield and commanded a regiment of the continental line in the revolution”
The reference appears to concern Colonel William Douglas of Connecticut, an important Revolutionary War officer who was residing in Northford, Connecticut in the years immediately preceding the Revolution.
Douglas entered military service following the outbreak of hostilities and later commanded Connecticut troops during the Revolutionary War, including service associated with the New York campaign.
The geographical and historical circumstances make the association particularly compelling: this is a 1774 Hartford printing of the First Continental Congress proceedings bearing the name “Wm Douglas,” apparently preserved within Northford-related material and accompanied by an old identification specifically attributing the signature to Colonel Douglas.
The accompanying provenance material will be included with the pamphlet.
Please note: The William Douglas ownership attribution is presented on the basis of the contemporary inscription, associated historical note, accompanying portrait material, geographic provenance, and comparison with known examples of Douglas's signature. The autograph has not been independently certified by a commercial authentication service, and prospective buyers should examine the photographs and supporting provenance for themselves.
This pamphlet represents one of the formative documentary stages of the American Revolution.
The First Continental Congress brought representatives of twelve colonies together in 1774 and established a coordinated colonial response to British policy. Its proceedings helped articulate American claims to political and constitutional rights and created the Continental Association, a colony-wide program of economic resistance to Britain.
This Hartford edition represents the dissemination of those actions within Connecticut during the final months before armed conflict began at Lexington and Concord in April 1775.
The chronology is remarkable:
1774 — First Continental Congress meets and these proceedings are printed and circulated
April 1775 — Lexington and Concord
May 1775 — Second Continental Congress convenes
July 1776 — Declaration of Independence
The Hartford Eben Watson printing is a scarce and desirable early American edition.
The present copy is distinguished by its apparent William Douglas Revolutionary-era ownership association and accompanying historical provenance material.
Complete through page 48.
This is an approximately 250-year-old American pamphlet and shows expected age, handling, toning, staining, edge wear and other signs of use. Please examine all photographs carefully for the exact condition of the paper, margins, stitching/binding state, inscriptions and individual leaves.
No attempt has been made to clean, erase, restore or otherwise alter the historic ownership inscription.
The “Wm Douglas” inscription, accompanying identification card, and Douglas portrait material are important parts of the provenance and are included with the lot.
A significant piece of Revolutionary Americana, First Continental Congress history, early Connecticut printing, and an exceptional Revolutionary association copy connected with Colonel William Douglas.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you.