Laws of the State of New-York, Comprising the Constitution, And the..

1789. New York: Hugh Gaine, 1789. 2 vols bound in one. New York: Hugh Gaine, 1789. 2 vols bound in one. Handsome 1789 Folio Edition of New York Laws with Two Interesting Laid-In Manuscript Notes [New York]. [Jones, Samuel (1734-1819), Compiler]. [Varick, Richard (1753-1819), Compiler]. Laws of the State of New York, Comprising the Constitution, And the Acts of the Legislature Since the Revolution, From The First to the Twelfth Session, Inclusive. Published According to an Act of the Legislature, Passed the 15th April, 1786. New York: Printed by Hugh Gaine, 1789. Two volumes bound as one. [iv], 336, [12], xii, [2]; [ii], 471, [17] pp. Two laid-in manuscript notes, 5-3/4" x 8," 6" x 8." Folio (15" x 10"). Contemporary calf, blind fillets to boards, "Leonard Bronk" gilt-stamped to center of front board, rebacked retaining existing spine with raised bands and lettering piece, spine ends repaired, hinges mended. Light rubbing to boards and extremities, moderate rubbing to board edges, corners bumped. Moderate toning, light foxing in a few places, offsetting to margins of preliminaries and rear endleaves. $3,000. * The first volume of collected New York laws printed after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the second issued after the American Revolution, the 1789 compilation contains laws passed 1778 through 1789, regulating such topics as governance, mortgages, debtors, land, slaves, New York City, criminal and marital law, rape, liquor and exports. Also includes an interesting law in King's county (Brooklyn) and Queen's county (Queens) establishing a 40 shilling fine to those carriages traveling from the City of New York that fail to give right of way to carriages going toward the city. Also includes the Constitution of the State of New York, passed April 20, 1777. The laid-in notes are quite interesting. The first is a contract between New York City Mayor Richard Varick and Hugh Gaine dated February 7, 1792. It directs the city treasurer to pay Gaine 73 pounds for "printing an emission of notes for small change." Issued two months before the establishment of the U.S. Mint, this note is essentially an authorization by the State of New York to issue fractional currency. The U.S. Constitution prohibited states from issuing paper money, but it appears that a few states and municipalities issued notes, or at least authorized them, in the early 1790s. Backed by the faith and credit of the issuer, these notes for smal.