Lot 163

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

Lewis & Clark, Thomas Jefferson Paying Them For Their Expedition, Scare First Edition Volume VIII of Laws of the United States, 1807

(LEWIS AND CLARK) (JEFFERSON, Thomas) UNITED STATES CONGRESS. The Laws of the United States of America. Volume VIII. Acts Passed at the First Session of the Ninth Congress of the United States… Acts Passed at the Second Session of the Ninth Congress of the United States; pp. [iii], [1-3] 4-207, [208], vi, [215-219], 220-352, iv, 29. Washington City: Published by Authority, 1807. One Volume. Octavo, contemporary brown sheep rebacked in calf-gilt, red morocco spine label. Text generally fresh with light scattered foxing mainly to preliminaries, endpapers renewed from old paper stock. Expert restoration to sheep boards.

First edition of Volume VIII of Laws of the United States, "published by authority," containing the official Acts passed during the 5th and 6th years of Jefferson's presidency in the First and Second Sessions of the Ninth Congress, featuring the crucial March 3, 1807 Act authorizing compensation to Lewis & Clark and members of their expedition, and the landmark March 2, 1807 Transatlantic Slave Act.

In Jefferson's December 2, 1806 Sixth Annual Message to Congress, he highlighted the monumental success of the 1804-6 Lewis & Clark Expedition, which Jefferson initiated and which "has well been called the most perfect of its kind in the history of the world" (Lamar, 640). On January 2, 1807 the House of Representatives appointed a committee to report on compensation for the expedition. "Lewis, who was living at the President's House… worked on the accounts from the expedition, and talked with the politicians about compensation, seeking more money and land for his men, and justice for Clark." On January 23, Alston, the committee chairman, "presented his bill for compensation. It called for 1600 acres each to Lewis and Clark, 320 acres to each of the enlisted men, and double pay for all… The Alston bill was hotly debated in the House… One member declared, 'It was equivalent to taking more than $60,000 out of the Treasury'… It took the House over a month to pass the bill (by a vote of 62 to 23). On the same day they did so, February 28, the bill passed the Senate without amendment… when the final settlement was made the expedition was going to turn out costing a lot more than had been anticipated. Jefferson never complained… he regarded the expenditure as an investment in the future of the country" (Ambrose, 412-15). Featured in this volume's official Acts of the Second Session is the "final text of the act approved by both Houses of Congress and the President of the United States, March 3, 1807" (Literature of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, I:86).

Also included here is the official "Act to Prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States"—known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act. "From the ratification of the Constitution in 1788 to the final resolution of the Missouri Compromise in 1821, Congress enacted seven statutes on the slave trade. By far the most important was the act passed pursuant to Article I, Section 9, Clause 1 of the Constitution," which stated Congress could pass no law prohibiting the importation of slaves prior to 1808. "Such an act was approved on March 2, 1807, to go into effect on January 1, 1808" (Civil Rights and African Americans, 53). Complete as issued in one volume together with the official Acts of the First Session of the Ninth Congress. Containing laws addressing other pressing issues of Jefferson's administration, including the public debt, the judiciary, commerce, the completion of the Capitol building, and proclamations, along with an act providing for those wounded and disabled in the Revolution, the peace treaty that brought an end to the first Barbary War, and treaties with the Delaware, Ottawa, Cherokee and other nations. First edition: with general title page, index at rear, separate half titles, table of contents for each session. Occasional mispagination as issued. An edition of Volume VIII issued later the same year printed by Weightman for William Duane, Philadelphia. Select Acts individually issued, including the Act making compensation, and Act to prohibit the Importation of Slaves. Sabin 15558. Shaw and Shoemaker 13790. See Shaw and Shoemaker 13936, 13791, 13776, 13787.

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!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

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

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide 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 who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, 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, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

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 Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. 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 5 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.

March 3, 2021 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 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