Journals of Congress, Containing the Proceedings From January 1st, 1779, to January 1st, 1780

Detailed collation below. 8vo. Shortly after the Declaration of Independence, Congress recognized the necessity of publishing its proceedings on a timely basis. These volumes appeared in more or less annual volumes, but in inconsistent formats, and from three different printers: Robert Aitken, John Dunlap, and David Claypoole. During the year 1779 they were also printed in individual monthly (January-March) and weekly (April to December) issues, thus appearing in a more immediate manner. These more frequent printings were executed in very small numbers, and are extremely rare. A single annual volume was reprinted from them in 1782, and this is what appears in most sets). This was the only year in which the journals of the Continental Congress were published in this manner, with monthly issues for the 1780 journals published the following year. The Journals for 1779 contain the records of deliberation and legislation on a number of important issues facing a new country in the midst of its revolution, including budgetary and fiscal issues, such as the devaluation of currency; diplomatic affairs, including multiple mentions of Benjamin Franklin as plenipotentiary to France; military matters, including the inpsection of the army, numerous communications from General George Washington, and passages relating to the court martial of Benedict Arnold. Also included are the roll call records of votes, and president of the Congress John Jay's circular letter to the states encouraging the idea of nationhood and a lasting union. The present example of the 1779 Journals, the fifth volume in the collected Journals, is comprised of the weekly parts from April 19 through the end of the year (without their separate title pages), with the portion from January 1 until mid-April and the general title supplied by the pages of the annual volume. Given the contemporary binding on this volume, the work was evidently assembled as such by a contemporary owner or bookseller, making economical use of the parts already to hand. Collates as follows: Title and pp. 3-200 from the annual volume published in 1782 [January 1 to April 16, with part of April 17]. Evans 17766. [Bound with:] Pages 17-[20], i.e. G1-2, from the weekly issue for April 1779 (covering the entire day April 17). Evans 16589. Pages [3]-24 [weekly issue, April 19-24]. Evans 16590. Pages [3]-16 [weekly issue, April 26-May 1]. Evans 16591 Pages [3]-15, [1] [weekly issue, May 3-8]. Evans 16592. Pages [3]-14, [2] [weekly issue, May 10-15]. Evans 16593. Pages [3]-24 [weekly issue, May 17-22]. Evans 16594. Pages [3]-20 [weekly issue, May 24-29]. Evans 16595. Pages [3]-15, [1] [weekly issue, May 31- June 5]. Evans 16596. Pages [3]-19, [1] [weekly issue, June 7-12]. Evans 16597. Pages [3]-10 [weekly issue, June 14-19]. Evans 16598. Pages [3]-13, [3] [weekly issue, June 21-26]. Evans 16599. Pages [3]-15, [1] [weekly issue, June 28 - July 3]. Evans 16600. Pages [3]-9, [1] [weekly issue, July 5-10]. Evans 16601. Pages [3]-10 [weekly issue, July 12-17]. Evans 16602. Pages [3]-14, [2] [weekly issue, July 19-24]. Evans 16603. Pages [3]-16 [weekly issue, July 26-31]. Evans 16604. Pages [3]-11, [1] [weekly issue, August 2-7]. Evans 16605. Pages [3]-9, [1] [weekly issue, August 9-14]. Evans 16606. Pages [3]-13, [3] [weekly issue, August 16-21]. Evans 16607. Pages [3]-14, [2] [weekly issue, August 23-28]. Evans 16608. Pages [3]-12 [weekly issue, August 30 - September 4]. Evans 16609. Pages [3]-10 [weekly issue, September 5-11]. Evans 16610. Pages [3]-22, [2] [weekly issue, September 13-18]. Evans 16611. Pages [3]-9, [1] [weekly issue, September 20-25]. Evans 16612. Pages [3]-11, [1] [weekly issue, September 27 - October 2]. Evans 16613. Pages [3]-11, [1] [weekly issue, October 4-9]. Evans 16614. Pages [3]-8 [weekly issue, October 11-16]. Evans 16615. Pages [3]-12 [weekly issue, October 18-23]. Evans 16616. Pages [3]-13, [3] [weekly issue, October 25-30]. Evans 16617. Pages [3]-7, [1] [weekly issue, November 1.…