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The Charter Granted by Their Majesties [With] Acts and Laws, 1742.

Massachusetts

Appealing Copy of the 1742 Acts and Laws of Massachusetts [Massachusetts]. The Charter Granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary, to the Inhabitants of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England. Boston: Printed and Sold by Samuel Kneeland and Timothy Green, 1742. 14 pp. [Bound with] The Table [to the Acts] [Boston: Printed and Sold by Samuel Kneeland and Timothy Green, 1742] 28 pp. [And] Acts and Laws of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New England. Boston: Printed and Sold by Samuel Kneeland and Timothy Green, 1742. [ii], 333; [334]-340 pp. Pages after p. 333 contains two acts from 1743: "An Act for Fixing the Times for Holding the Superior Courts of Judicature [and Other Courts," "An Act in Addition to the Several Acts for Regulating Fences" and "An Act in Addition to an [Act]...to Ascertain the Value of Money and of Bills of Publick Credit of this Province." 38 blank leaves bound to rear of text. Folio (11-1/2" x 7-1/2"). Contemporary sheep, blind rules to boards, blind fillets to joints, raised bands, unlettered spine. Some rubbing to boards and extremities, a few shallow scuffs to rear board, rear joint just starting at foot, corners bumped and somewhat worn, hinges cracked, front free endpaper partially detached (but secure), rear free endpaper lacking. Moderate toning to text, somewhat heavier in places, light foxing, faint stains to fore-edges of Charter, some staining and edgewear to blank leaves at rear of text. In all a very good, fresh copy in the original state. $1,500. * This legislative compilation from 1692 to 1743 provides unparalleled insights into the colony's attitude towards Indians, "Free Negroes," piracy, buggery, bestiality, incest, "Jesuits and Popish priests," the killing of bastard children by their mothers, "misspending money in taverns," "keeping the Lord's day," adultery, polygamy and many other social and political topics. Although they are separate works, the Charter and Laws are almost always bound together. And like other copies, this one has additional acts published after 1742. These were issued with continuous pagination with the expectation that they would be bound with the original work. Babbitt, Hand-List of Legislative Sessions and Session Laws 193. Benedict,

Price: $1,500.00

Book number 65968