Constitution

Constitution — marelibri

London Chronicle The U. S. Constitution

1787réf. 69121London: Sold by T. Wilkie 1787. UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. The London Chronicle "The New Plan for the Constitution of the United States of America". Vo. LXII. No. 4834-4835. From Saturday October 27 to Tuesday October 30 1787 and From Tuesday October 30 to Thursday November 1 1787. Pages 409-424. London: Sold by T. Wilkie 1787. Likely the first public printing of the United States Constitution in England. This newspaper printing precedes the know first edition pamphlet published by Debrett as well as the first magazine printing in "The Gentleman's Magazine." It is broadly stated that news of the United States Constitution hit England early in November however the dates of the Chronicle precede this by a few days. This copy also contains the preliminary cover letter from George Washington to the president of Congress which is usually included with early printings of the Constitution and which states Washington's strong support of ratification. "The Plan" is printed in its entirety without comment or explanation from the publisher. Together two issues no. 4834 and 4834. Each issue self bound along left margin. 11 3/8 x 8 5/8 inches; 288 x 222 mm. Number 4834 is four leaves pages 409-416 and number 4835 is four leaves pages 417-424. The first part of the Constitution is printed on pages 413-414 of the first part with the end stating "To be concluded in our next" and the second part is printed on pages 420-421. Both issues very good with just some slight toning. Page 421-422 trimmed close at top margin just touching header. A small red stamp on verso of first leaf of each issue along bottom margin. Overall about fine. We could find no other copies of this or any earlier British newspaper containing the US Constitution on Rare Book Hub. We could not locate any copies on OCLC or ESTC. Housed in a custom quarter red morocco clamshell. At the time of the Constitutional Convention John Adams was living in England as a diplomat. In a letter to John Adams from Elbridge Gerry dated September 20th 1787 just one day after the first newspapers in America printed the Constitution he states "The proceedings of the Convention being this day published I embrace the Oppertunity of transmitting them by a Vessel which is to sail this morning for London." According to the National Archives "Gerry enclosed a copy of the new U.S. Constitution. Gerry likely sent this letter to John Adams via the Prince George Capt. Strong which departed New York City in late September and arrived in London on 3 Nov. New York Independent Journal 1 Sept. 1787 2 Feb. 1788." This shows that it would have been impossible for news of the Constitution to arrive in England much before this date of November 3rd. Lengthy searches turn up no indication that any other British publication has a copy of the US Constitution before this London Chronicle printing. The National Archives go on to state "The U.S. Constitution was adopted on 17 Sept. 1787 and British newspapers first published the text in late autumn. The London Chronicle printed the preamble and the first article in its 27-30 Oct. issue and the remaining articles and signatures in its 30 Oct. - 1 Nov. issue. " The London Chronicle was a thrice weekly newspaper also known for being " one of the first to break the news that the United States had declared independence from the British Empire reporting on the event in its 13 August 1776 edition. It was also one of the first to publish the declaration in its entirety in the 15-17 August 1776 edition but containing no explanation or comment as to what it was" Wikipedia. This holds true for their publication of the Constitution as well. United States Constitution now the longest continuing charter of a national government in the world and "the product of a revolution in political thought at least as important and far-reaching as the winning of American independence from Great Britain and the culmination of the intellectual ferment and political experimentation in the new republic" Richard B. Bernstein Are We to Be a Nation. HBS 69121. $20000. Sold by T. Wilkie unknown books