Description:

George III King of England

Parliament Passes One of the Townshend Acts to Tax Britain’s American Colonies, Ex-Forbes


GEORGE III, “An Act for granting certain Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America; for allowing a Drawback of the Duties of Customs upon the Exportation, from this Kingdom, of Coffee and Cocoa Nuts of the Produce of the said Colonies or Plantations; for discontinuing the Drawbacks payable on China Earthen Ware exported to America; and for more effectually preventing the clandestine Running of Goods in the said Colonies and Plantations,” [June 29, 1767]. Printed Document. 12 pp., cover page plus pages 655-664, 7.5" x 11.875". Residue from disbinding on left edge; very good.


This act was one of the five Townshend Acts that placed new taxes on various items imported into Great Britain’s North American colonies and created a new system of enforcement. Passed under the leadership of Charles Townshend, the chancellor of the Exchequer, the acts were meant to raise revenue and consolidate Parliament’s power over the British colonies in America. This act placed taxes on glass, lead, painters’ colors, tea, and paper. It also gave customs officials broad authority to enforce the taxes. They could punish smugglers through the use of general warrants that could be used to search private property for smuggled goods. The new taxes and enforcement measures increased clashes with smuggling colonists that led to the occupation of Boston by British troops. This occupation in turn led to the Boston Massacre. Parliament eventually repealed the Townshend Acts, except for the tax on tea, but the acts were a primary point of dispute between Great Britain and the colonists that led to the American Revolutionary War.


Excerpts

“from and after the twentieth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven, there shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid, unto his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, for and upon the respective goods herein after mentioned, which shall be imported from Great Britain into any colony or plantation in America which now is, or hereafter may be, under the dominion of his Majesty, his heirs, or successors, the several rates and duties following....”

“from and after the said twentieth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and sixty seven, such writs of assistants, to authorize and impower the officers of his Majesty’s customs to enter and go into any house, warehouse, shop, cellar, or other place, in the British colonies or plantations in America, to search for and seize prohibited or uncustomed goods, in the manner directed by the said recited acts, shall and may be granted by the said superior or supreme courts of justice having jurisdiction within such colony or plantation respectively.”


Provenance: Ex-Forbes Collection. Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), the American owner-publisher of Forbes magazine and a consummate collector, amassed one of the most substantial autograph collections of such breadth and depth that it filled a half-dozen residences on three continents. Many of his manuscripts were sold in a series of multi-million dollar sales by Christie's in the early 2000s. The Forbes name is considered to be the apex of provenance, especially when attached to an item like the above. We are honored to have been chosen by the family to sell at auction the substantial balance of the collection.


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.


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