Description:

U.S. Congress
various, ca. 1789-1826
Acts From 11 U.S. Congresses, 1789-1826, In 18 Volumes! From First Presidential Election to Alien & Sedition Acts, War of 1812 to Panic of 1817
Books

A large collection of books and booklets, each containing legislation passed by 11 sessions of U.S. Congress (non-continuously) between 1789-1826. The archive, totaling 18 volumes, includes session reports from: 1st Congress, 1-3 sessions (1789-1791); 2nd Congress, 1st session (1791-1792); 5th Congress, 3rd session (1798-1799); 6th Congress, 1-2 sessions (1799-1801); 11th Congress, 1st and 3rd sessions (1809-1811); 13th Congress, 1-3 sessions (1813-1815); 14th Congress, 1st session (1815-1816); 15th Congress, 1-2 sessions (1817-1819); 17th Congress, 1-2 sessions (1821-1823); 18th Congress, 1-2 sessions (1823-1825); and 19th Congress, 1st session (1825-1826).

The vast majority of the Acts are in printed booklets with quarter paper wrappers and deckled edges, but there are also two leather volumes and one disbound volume. Some of the pages are uncut. Publication information when present will be mentioned, and included Washington, D.C., Hartford, and Philadelphia. Expected condition issues related to age and weathering including toning, foxing, ink burn, wrinkles, loss, and scattered ownership signatures. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition, which is overall very good. The average size of the booklets is approximately 5.625" x 9.125" x .75." The largest book measures 5.75" x 9.5" x 2.25." The collection currently fits in a banking box.

The U.S. Congress passed legislation touching on all areas of daily life, from lighthouse construction, designation of post roads, and banking; to the success of the fishery, industry, commercial trade, and Indian treaties. They also discussed such disparate topics as census-taking, suffrage, oath-taking, penal codes, free franking privileges, bankruptcy, the Mint, circuit courts, naturalization, and the enumeration of enslaved persons. During the U.S. Congress sessions represented in this collection, the first president was elected (1st Congress); the first presidential veto was lobbied (2nd Congress); the Alien and Sedition Act was passed (5th Congress); George Washington died and was commemorated (6th Congress); the War of 1812 was waged (13th Congress); and the first American financial crisis, the Panic of 1817, was managed (15th Congress).

The collection includes, in chronological order:

1. Large leather volume containing 1st Congress, 1-3 sessions (convened March 1789-March 1791). (Hartford: Re-printed and sold by Hudson and Goodwin, 1791). 1st session: p. 3-150 plus Index; 2nd session: p. 151-263; 3rd session: p. 265-314 plus Appendix. Scuffed and distressed leather with some loss, and repaired spine label. 5.75" x 9.5" x 2.25."

2. Smaller leather volume containing 2nd Congress, 1st session (convened October 1791-May 1792). (Philadelphia: Printed by Francis Childs and John Swaine, Printers of the Laws of the United States, n.d.) 1st session: p. 3-291 plus Table of Contents and Index. Has ex-libris and catalog number from Waterloo Library & Historical Society. 5" x 8" x 1.25."

3. Disbound volume including content from 5th Congress, 3rd session (convened December 1798-March 1799). 3rd session: p. 281-561. Could possibly contain a few pages of text from 1st Congress, 1st session?

4. Booklet containing 6th Congress, 1st session (convened December 1799-May 1800). 1st session: p. 1-223.

5. Booklet containing 6th Congress, 2nd session (convened November 1800-March 1801). (Washington City: Printed by Samuel Harrison Smith, New-Jersey Avenue Near the Capitol, 1801). 2nd session: p. 227-352 plus Table of Contents and Index.

6. Booklet containing 11th Congress, 1st session (convened May 1809-June 1809). 1st session: p. 3-241 plus Table of Contents.

7. Booklet containing 11th Congress, 3rd session (convened December 1810-March 1811). (Washington City: Printed for the Department of State, 1811). 3rd session: p. 251-407 plus Table of Contents and Index.

8. Booklet containing 13th Congress, 1st session (convened May 1813-August 1813). 1st session: p. 3-233 plus Table of Contents.

9. Booklet containing 13th Congress, 2nd session (convened December 1813-April 1814). 2nd session: p. 243-429 plus Table of Contents.

10. Booklet containing 13th Congress, 3rd session (convened September 1814-March 1815). (Washington: Printed by Rapine & Elliot, 1815). 3rd session: p. 3-202 plus Table of Contents and Index.

11. Booklet containing 14th Congress, 1st session (convened December 1815-April 1816). 1st session: p. 3-198 plus Table of Contents.

12. Booklet containing 15th Congress, 1st session (convened December 1817-April 1818). 1st session: p. 3-151 plus Index.

13. Booklet containing 15th Congress, 2nd session (convened November 1818-March 1819). 2nd session: p. 3-96 plus Index.

14. Booklet containing 17th Congress, 1st session (convened December 1821-May 1822). (Washington: Printed by Davis and Force, (Franklin's Head), Pennsylvania Avenue, 1822). 1st session: p. 3-127 plus Index.

15. Booklet containing 17th Congress, 2nd session (convened December 1822-March 1823). (Washington: Printed by Davis and Force, (Franklin's Head), Pennsylvania Avenue, 1823). 2nd session: p. 3-32 plus Index.

16. Booklet containing 18th Congress, 1st session (convened December 1823-May 1824). (Washington: Printed by Davis and Force, (Franklin's Head), Pennsylvania Avenue, 1824). 1st session: p. 3-146 plus Index.

17. Booklet containing 18th Congress, 2nd session (convened December 1824-March 1825). (Washington: Printed by Davis and Force, (Franklin's Head), Pennsylvania Avenue, 1825). 2nd session: p. 3-130 plus Index.

18. Booklet containing 19th Congress, 1st session (convened December 1825-May 1826). (Washington: Printed by Davis and Force, (Franklin's Head), Pennsylvania Avenue, 1826). 1st session: p. 3-78 plus Index.

Please see our terms and conditions for large lots.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: banking box
  • Medium: Books

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

June 4, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000