The Annual Register, or A View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Year 1776 [First Appearance of American Declaration of Independence in Book Form]

First Edition

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Book Description

London: J. Dodsley, 1777. Contemporary account of the most significant year in the history of the American colonies, and first printing of the American Declaration of Independence in book form. 1/4 leather, brown paper over boards. Original binding, retaining both boards, though front is detached, and rear is anchored only by binding cords, both showing rounded corners with loss, significant surface wear; spine panel lacking. iv,112,113*-192*,113-270,[1,blank],186 pp. [incomplete, evidently lacking pp. 187-259 + index, yet extant tabs still bound in number approx. 18 (=36 pp.), so this copy may be a variant that did not contain all 259 pp. at rear]. The first 192 pages are occupied by "The History of Europe," followed by "The Chronicle" (paginated separately, pp. 113-270), followed by "Characters" (also paginated separately). Beyond above noted incompleteness, front flyleaf is also lacking, with the volume opening directly onto title page. Untrimmed edges, scattered foxing ranging light to occasionally moderate, modestly dampstained title page, containing vintage signatures of former owners Andw. Epple (1778) and Robt. Rea (1858), and (on p. 1) E. W. Wallace (undated). All said, a somewhat shabby, compromised copy. However, what demands attention here is the publication date of 1776, about which a vintage review clipping affixed to the front and rear pastedowns state, "Perhaps no more interesting year, to the American reader, could be chosen from the eighteenth century. And, in fact, the work is occupied to the extent of half its number of pages with 'The American Question,' and the views taken are calm, reasonable and moderate. . . . [After the 'Chronicle'] . . . comes a number of State Papers, among which is the American Declaration of Independence, with the name of the King of England and the reign left out, as thus: 'The history of the present ---- of ------ is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations.' The signatures to the Declaration are John Hancock, President, and Charles Thompson, Secretary. / The articles of Confederation between the thirteen colonies are printed in full. . . . Many other state papers are given, nearly all of them referring to the American troubles." Other contents include a long account of "a Mr. Henry" in seizing the gunpowder at Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1775, the same year as the Battle of Quebec, which is also described in great detail in the 192-page historical section; also accounts of Governor Penn on the "Olive Branch," the attack on Charleston, and the momentous Fourth of July, 1776, occasioning the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, which is reprinted here, in its earliest appearance in book form, on pp. 261-270, in the "State Papers" section, including the XVI Articles of Confederation (pp. 264-270) resolved and signed at Philadelphia on 4 Oct. 1776. Recasing would significantly improve this volume's appearance, but it is offered as is, with all faults, retaining its original state of issue, sadly excepting the portions lacking at rear.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fair-Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.