A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America, now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms. Philadelphia: William and Thomas Bradford, 1775



8vo (7 1/4 x 4 1/2 in.; 185 x 115 mm). Half-title, occasional spotting. Nineteenth-century half green morocco over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, spine lettered gilt; extremities rubbed.

Henry G. Gray (gift plate dated 19 May 1848 to Harva🔯rd College) — Harvard College (Accession and deaccession stamps on verso o𒐪f title page, additional deaccession stamp on gift plate)

Evans 14544; Howes D198; Sabin 15522; Streeter Sale 2:763

8vo (7 1/4 x 4 1/2 in.; 185 x 115 mm). Half-title, occasional spotting. Nineteenth-century half green morocco over marbled boards, marbled endpapers, spine lettered gilt; extremities rubbed.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Justifying the establishment of the Continental Army. On 26 June Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson were appointed to prepare a draft of the Declaration, which was "too strong for Mr. Dickinson. He still retained the hope of reconciliation with the mother country, and was unwilling it should be lessened by offensive statements ... We therefore requested him to take the paper, and put it into a form he could approve. He did so, preparing an entire new statement, and preserving of the former only the last four paragraphs and the half of the preceding one. We approved and reported it to Congress" (Jefferson, Autobiography, in Writings [Ford 1:16]).

Similar to the Preamble of the Declaration of Independenc💝e, the Declaration of 1775 lists the colonists's grievances and  attempts to petition the Crown, which were repeatedly dismissed. The principal reason for establishing an army, according to the Declaration, was a direct result of the atrocities committed by the British at Lexington and Concord.

The text of the Declaration was issued first as a broadside newspaper extra to the Pennsylvania Gazette, followed by the 🐬pamphlet printing. Scarce, this is only the fourth copy to appear at auc🐻tion since the Streeter sale in 1967.