ACTS AND LAWS OF HIS MAJESTY'S PROVINCE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE IN NEW-ENGLAND. With Sundry Acts of Parliament. By Order of the General Assembly. To Which is Prefix'd the Commissions of President John Cuttss, Esq; and His Excellency John Wentworth, Esq

VERY RARE FIRST EDITION OF THE WORK, and an extremely early New Hampshire publication, printed by the state's first printer. Sometimes called "Fowles Second Edition" in reference to a 1761 compilation of laws with almost precisely the same title. This however is the first edition of the 1771 publication. Title-page within woodcut border, woodcut lines of various figures used for head- and tail-pieces throughout. Folio, bound in contemporary reverse calf, the spine with raised bands blind ruled, the boards framed in blind. 8, 5, iv, 1-272, 1-51, xiii, pp., 21ff (blank) pp. An extremely well preserved copy, about as fine as could possibly be expected, the volume especially rare in this condition. The provincial paper used in this very early Portsmouth imprint has rendered extant copies toned or spotted to such an extent as to make them nearly unusable. This copy has only light toning and some minor spotting along the margins and prelims, with some leaves occasionally more affected. This rare folio volume is complete, strong, solid and sturdy and its contemporary binding in especially pleasing and well preserved condition.

Edizione: a fascinating view into new england law and life in the period leading up to the american revolution. arguably unparalleled in detail and completeness for a colonial work of this kind, it provides extensive information concerning the typical social and political topics of the period. <br> the work begins with the commission by charles the second appointing john cutts to be the first president of the province of new hampshire and the commission by george the third appointing sir john wentworth the (then) current colonial governor.<br> the perpetual laws follow. these included everything from responsibility for damages done by horses to laws relating to indians, marriages, births, burials, fornication, cornfields, mills and vagabonds. this is followed by a fifty-one page collection of temporary laws and lastly a table of contents.<br> a very rare important and early work published in colonial america.