Franklin, Benjamin | A Collection of Laws of Pennsylvania, first edition

Franklin, Benjamin

 A Collection of all the Laws of the Province of Pennsylvania: Now in force. [and:] An Appendix; containing a summary of such acts of assembly as have been formerly in force within this province. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, 1742 [–1743]

Folio (290 x 170 mm). Two early ownership inscriptions to title-page, early annotations to final index, a few additional annotations in later hands. Intermittent toning and spotting to leaves, a few closed marginal tears and chips, marginal restoration work to final four leaves and first title, faint evidence of stamp removal to A2 and B1, scattered mispagination and catchword errors as noted in Miller. Modern brown calf, morocco label gilt.

First edition of Franklin's printing of the laws of colonial Pennsylvania.

Agitation for a complete and correct edition of the laws of Pennsylvania began in 1737, and in early 1739, John Kinsey, the Attorney General of the province, was appointed to supervise the project. Franklin received Kinsey's revised copy in the spring of 1741 and completed the printing two years later.

REFERENCE:

Miller 288; Campbell, 76; Tower 292; Church 943; Evans 5033

PROVENANCE:

Joseph Ross (ownership inscription to title) — Charles Taylor (ownership inscription to title)