AN ADDRESS OF THE CONVENTION FOR FRAMING A NEW CONSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, TO THE INHABITANTS OF SAID STATE.

[New Hampshire]:

Published by New Hampshire: Printed, and to be Sold, at the Printing-Offices in Portsmouth and Exeter, 1781.

About this Item

An early printing of the first proposed constitution for New Hampshire, from that state's constitutional convention of 1781-83. The constitution is on pages 17-63; the remainder of the text consists of an address by George Atkinson and Jona. M. Sewall which introduces the proposed document. This form of the New Hampshire constitution was rejected, but a revised version proposed in 1783 was approved by the state's delegates and citizenry. Further revisions were proposed in the following decade, and a final version with amendments was approved and published in 1792. Daniel and Zechariah Fowle, Revolutionary printers who did not shy away from criticizing both the British and colonial American governments, are the only printers of record at Exeter and Portsmouth in 1781; this work is presumed to be theirs. EVANS 17249. ESTC W36761. Small quarto. Modern half calf and marbled boards, gilt leather label. Small hole in titlepage with no loss of text. Contemporary ownership inscriptions of "Simeon Ladd" and "Josiah Ladd" and later pen and pencil annotations on titlepage. Verso of p.63 with contemporary annotations, errata statement crossed out in a contemporary hand but somewhat legible. First four leaves trimmed closer than remainder of text with no loss of text. Light staining and foxing, long horizontal tear in upper margin of leaf F1 caused by opening, only touching page number; minor staining to last two leaves. About very good. Untrimmed, except for first gathering.

Seller Inventory # 57254

Bibliographic Details

• Title: AN ADDRESS OF THE CONVENTION FOR FRAMING A NEW CONSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, TO THE INHABITANTS OF SAID STATE.
• Publisher: New Hampshire: Printed, and to be Sold, at the Printing-Offices in Portsmouth and Exeter, 1781.