One of the Earliest Announcements of Independence

Descripción

The Pennsylvania Magazine; Or American Monthly Museum for January-July, 1776. Philadelphia: Robert Aitken. [5]-344pp. A bound volume containing a remarkable issue-one of the most historic magazines ever printed."July 2. This day the Hon. Continental Congress declared the UNITED COLONIES FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES." These issues are the final seven from the only American magazine published in America during the Revolutionary crisis. With maps and other rare woodcut illustrations.As the publisher reports, the June issue was slightly delayed due to a paper shortage. "To our Correspondents. Hermes came too late for insertion this month. Our customers will excuse us, though the day of publication be sometimes delayed: The great difficulty we have procuring printing paper, renders it impossible for us to publish always on the first Wednesday of the month [July 3]."This delay would have left just enough time for the last-minute addition of one of the very first reports of Independence. It was likely published on July 4 to 6; had it been any later, it would have been able to include or at least mention the full text of the July 4th Declaration of Independence (which appears in the July issue, published in the first few days of August.)The full text of the Declaration appears on pp. 328-330, followed by the Constitution of New Jersey approved July 2, the Constitution of Virginia approved July 5, and a summary of the Constitution of Connecticut. There are also military notices from Canada, South Carolina, and Washington at New York. Other highlights include an address from the House of Commons to the King of England lamenting "the condition of our unhappy fellow subjects in America; seduced from their allegiance by the greatest misrepresentations" (February), a graphic account of the siege and capture of Boston by the Continental Army, accompanied by General Washington's letter to Brig. General Stirling that "we are now in full possession" of the town (March), Phillis Wheatley's Ode to Washington (April), a report on the Virginia House dissolving itself and instructing its delegates in the Continental Congress to vote for independence, as well as a resolution issued from Congress calling for each colony that has yet to do so to separate itself from England and form its own state government (May).Including two in-text engravings, and one folding map, "A New Map of North and South Carolina and Georgia" with old repairs and paper loss to the Bottom outer edge of the map. Lacks the four engraved plates and one of the engraved maps. No frontal material was issued for this volume, hence there never were pages 1-4, and this volume starts with page 5, as issued. Condition: Later three-quarter calf in antique style, with contemporary marbled boards. Toning and scattered old foxing and dampstains. In the January 1776 issue, pages 5-6, the cover/contents page of and the Meteorological Diary are supplied in facsimile. In the July 1776 issue, the Declaration pages (p328-30) are fine, but the final pages (p343-44) are supplied in facsimile. Historical BackgroundConceived by printer and bookseller Robert Aitken, best known for his work for the Continental Congress, the Pennsylvania Magazine was launched in January 1775. Soon enough, Aitken found himself needing an editor. For 50 a year, he hired Thomas Paine, who had only arrived in America in December 1774. Paine served as editor from February through July or August 1775. While serving as editor, Paine also became a major contributor, sometimes under the pseudonym "Atlanticus," and at others with no by-line. He wrote prolifically on many topics, including descriptions of inventions, and most of the magazine's revolutionary-era political material. According to John Tebbel, in The American Magazine: A Compact History (New York, 1969), "Paine (and Aitken) did not permit The Pennsylvania Magazine to be simply a propaganda organ. It contained a wide variety of other. (See website for full description).

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Detalles bibliográficos

Título

One of the Earliest Announcements of Independence

Fecha de publicación

1776

Encuadernación

Hardcover

Estado

Fine

Tipo de libro

The Pennsylvania Magazine;