Pennsylvania

The Constitution of the Common-Wealth of Pennsylvania, as Established by the General Convention Elected for that Purpose, and Held at Philadelphia, July 15th, 1776, and Continued by Adjournments to September 28, 1776. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1776

8vo (197 x 127 mm).&nb𝓡sp;Small, faint dampstain in top margin of first quire. Quarter calf antique over marbled boards, red morocco 💃label.

First edition of the first independent state constitution issued after the Declaration of Independence. Although the Pennsylvania consꦺ🍨titution was not ratified until 28 September 1776, the state's constitutional convention presided over by Benjamin Franklin first convened on 15 July—just nine days after the Declaration of Independence. 

The convention produced a document that embraced direct popular rule; the charter was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr. Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Franklin. Like the Declaration, the Pennsylvania constitution began with a preamble 🐭that inveighed against George III and his unlawful war against the Colonies. 

Some of the innovations of the constitution included voting franchise without property qualifications for all taxpaying freemen; a unicameral legislature, with members elected to one-yearꦏ terms; a thirteen-member Supreme Executive Council to administer the government; and a judiciary appointed by the legislature for seven-year terms, and removable at any time. Rare: only two other copies appear in the auction records.

REFERENCE

EST𒀰C W30512; Eva🐠ns 14979; Hildeburn 33560; Sabin 60014  

PROVENANCE

The Libr🗹ary of a Distinguished Book Collector (Sotheby's New York, 4 June 2013, lot 125)