About this Item
Two Volumes. Apparent first editions (NAP, 1894 and 1895 on the respective title pages). Part of the titles: from Volume I 'with the journal of the council of safety from October 11, 1776, to May 6, 1778, inclusive, and an appendix' and from Volume II 'with the journal of the council of safety from May 18, 1778, to April 23, 1780, and an appendix.' As you can see from the photos, the blue covers of both volumes are in exceptional condition. Judging from the pictures provided by other sellers, once listed these will clearly be the nicest looking covers. In Volume I there is a blind stamped decoration on both the front and rear covers. They don't seem to have gone to the trouble in Volume II. Another difference: the gilt lettering in Volume II has a reddish tint, not the case in Volume I. The gilt on both volumes is quite bright and unworn. The spines of each of the two volumes have the same bands so they match up nicely in that respect. The blue of Volume II is lighter than that of Volume I. There isn't any rub-through at any of the corners of either volume. There is a little bit of discoloration (lightening of the blue to a more aqua hue) at a couple of corners, and in a few spots at the bottom edge of Volume II. The spines of both volumes are in very solid shape. There is a small scratch on Volume I just above the word 'Connecticut.' There is a speck or two of wear at the bottom edge of Volume II, also a very light vertical crease, other than that just a little crinkling at the spine ends. Both books are nicely square, the spines are not slanted. The middle and bottom page edges are deckled or rough-cut. The top page edge of both volumes has a thin black line in the same place. It looks like someone tried to scratch it off (with only moderate success) so there is a light area around the dark lines due to the scratching. I noticed that a good number of pages within both volumes had a tiny black spot just peeking over the top page edge. Quite positively, both volumes are very solidly bound from cover to cover. All four covers are tight. I didn't see any cracks or spaces between any of the facing pages or between the covers and any of the pages. The pages are actually nicely tight. They're also very clean, exceptionally clean. I'm scrolling through them now and not running into any soiling. I have seen an occasional thin crease off a top edge, but haven't seen any turned-down corners or placeholder creases. It is quite easy to surmise that neither of these volumes were ever read, which also explains the excellent condition of the pages. Easy because there are a great many uncut pages. Actually gatherings of pages, not just individual pages, are uncut. So you see page 601 and then you see page 608, you see page 609 and then you see page 616, you see page 617 and then you see page 624. You get the idea: everything in between is uncut. It's the top page edges, not the middle ones which need to be cut. That is if you want to read them. If you want these handsome antiquarian volumes to simply adorn your bookcase, you're set to go. Finally, I didn't see any markings in either volume. There are no attachments of any kind. And no one has written their name or anything else anywhere. As you can see, I've set the price low, a good deal lower than what they were selling for when I first purchased them some years ago. Seller Inventory # 003297
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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Public Records of the State of ...
Publisher: Charles J. Hoadly; Printed by the Press of the Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, Hartford, Connecticut
Publication Date: 1894
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good Plus
Edition: 1st Edition