The Earliest Obtainable Declaration of Independence Printing with the Signers' Names - in First Edition of 1776 Journals of the Continental Congress

Journals of Congress. Containing the Proceedings in the Year, 1776. Published by Order of Congress. Volume II. Philadelphia. Robert Aitken, 1777. First edition. Rebound. [2], 513, [22, Index] pages. On July 2, 1776, Congress actually declares independence, by passing the resolution "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." (p239)After further wrangling about the final text, the July 4th Declaration is printed on pages 241-246. This is the second printing of the Declaration to list the names of the signers (after the Goddard broadside) and the third official printing overall (after the Dunlap and Goddard broadsides). The Journals of CongressIt is interesting to note that no 1776 printing of the Declaration listed the signers' names. The first to do so was the broadside Congress ordered from Mary Goddard of Baltimore in early 1777. This 1776 Journals of Congress, published in 1777, allowed the names of the signers (except for Thomas McKean of Pennsylvania, who did not sign the engrossed Declaration until 1781) to become more widely knownRobert Aitken printed eighty copies each of monthly issue of the Journals for January through April 1776, solely for the use of the members. That fall, Congress ordered a new uniform edition, in smaller type to minimize cost. Aitken reprinted and combined the 1774 and 1775 Journals into Volume I, and then reprinted the beginning of 1776 for this, the second volume. Aitken had stopped the monthly printings after May, making this volume, completed by Aitken in the spring or summer of 1777, the first Journals of Congress edition of the Declaration of Independence, along with the preceding Resolutions that set it in motion.On September 26, 1777, as the British marched into Philadelphia unopposed, Aitken had to abandon his press and print shop, though he was able to take with him already printed pages 1-424 (98 pages shy of completion). Aitken's account book records 532 copies of the first edition. Bibliographers are unclear if this includes the incomplete books he evacuated from Philadelphia. (John Dunlap was hired by Congress to complete the project; he issued his own title page, though for many copies, he used the pages Aitken had already printed.)Additional texts in this volume include:accounts of the colonies' desperate need for money, muskets and gunpowdercommunications with Washington, as well as negotiations with Indians and Canada;resolution to disarm all who are "notoriously disaffected to the cause of America" (p91);Resolution approving privateering by authorizing friendly vessels to "attack, subdue, and take all ships. carrying soldiers, arms, gun-powder, ammunition, provisions, or any other contraband goods, to any of the British armies or ships of war" (p119);Resolution "that no Slaves be imported into any of the Thirteen United Colonies" (p122);June 7 Resolution that "certain resolutions respecting Independency are moved and seconded." The next day, Richard Henry Lee's motion for Independence is referred to a committee of the whole Congress (p204-5).18 articles of war (p365-81). Provenance: Samuel McGraw Gunn (ink inscription dated 1822).Condition. Modern calf, to style. Minor dampstaining, particularly toward the end of volume. Custom chemise and slipcase.ANB 13:388. EVANS 15684.…