"ALL MEN ARE BORN EQUALLY FREE AND INDEPENDENT"

(CONSTITUTION). The Laws of the State of New-Hampshire, Together with the Declaration of Independence: The Definitive Treaty of Peace… The Constitution of New-Hampshire; And the Constitution of the United States with its Proposed Amendments. Portsmouth: John Melcher, 1792. Octavo, contemporary full brown sheep rebacked and recornered with original spine and partial red morocco spine label laid down. $1200.

First edition of the Laws of the State of New-Hampshire, containing official printings of the Declaration of Independence, the 1783 Treaty of Peace, the recently ratified U.S. Constitution, with New Hampshire the key ninth state to vote for ratification, along with official printing of the state's landmark 1784 constitution and Bill of Rights—still fundamentally in effect today—and foundational state legislation, in contemporary sheep boards.

When New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, that landmark step made it binding on the states who already ratified it. Also notable herein is an official printing of its 1784 constitution. In 1776 New Hampshire was the first of the 13 colonies to pass a state constitution. Since then it "has had two constitutions: the citizens of the Granite State abandoned the original 1776 Constitution in 1784, replacing it with a constitution… that in its structure and much of its detail has remained unchanged to this day" (Friedman, Endurance of State Constitutions). The 1784 constitution features a Bill of Rights very similar to the U.S. Bill of Rights, such as an opening guarantee that "all men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights." Of particular note, in that unmarried women of property could previously vote, this 1784 Constitution newly deprived women of that right by instead specifying that "every male inhabitant" who paid the poll tax had the right to vote (30). With official printed label affixed to front pastedown stating: "I hereby certify, that the Revised Laws contained in this book are not to be in force until the fifteenth day of September, 1792. Joseph Pearson, Secretary." Sabin 52843. ESTC W6924. Evans 24586. Matyas 92-02. Faint early owner signatures to boards, marginalia to rear pastedown and rear blank.

Text fresh with light scattered foxing, tiny hole to title page not affecting text, mild occasional dampstaining, expert early restoration to spine head, later expert restoration to binding. An extremely good copy.