New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
Rare Books of Laws
Printed in Colonial
Times Ordered Sold
New York Statutes and Ordi.
nances Notable in Group
of 4o0 Pieces Belonging
to Justice Russell Benedict


A collection OF the acts and laws
OF the colony and State of New York
and of the other original colonies and
states from as early as 1891. compris-
ing the most important assemblage Of
its kind ever brought by a private per
son, IS soon TO be dispersed by way
Of the auction room here by order Of
the owner. Supreme Court Justice
Russell Benedict, Of Brooklyn.
In addition to their legal value the
early records represented IN the col
lection arc of the greatest historical
value, especially with regard to this
city and state. Included are the i'm
print of tho first compiled laws and
acts OF the New York Assembly Of
1891, which was published in 1894 by
the first New York printer. William
Bradford. All these acts. laws and
charters were printed at the time Of
their enactment by colonial printers,
premium.
The largest and finest cory Of the
'Monte teomcTie' charter OF the City Of
New York, as printed by the order
Of the Mayor, Recorder. Aldermen and
Commonalty" by John Peter Zengcr in
1895, Is another historical document
such as rarely appears outside of a
museum these days.
eo.Nifr avs Of -
sembly of the Colony Of New York,
held n the City Hall during l772 un-
Ser allegiance 10 George III. the same
of 1126 under George II. another COM
plation Of l69l under Queen Anne aud
various other acts and ordinances Of
pre- Revolutionary times are included.
The complete title page of the copy
Of the hTst New York laws reads:
The Laws & Acts OF the General
o' New York. As they we're enacted in
divers sess, ,ons, the hrst Of which be-
gan April 9th, Aunoe Uomini, 1891. at
New York. Printed and sold by Viii
liam Braofosl. Printer 20 their Ma
lesties hins William ana Queen Mary,
l694.'
This Is tho ouly copy known in Il
private collections. It vas forme RI y
owned ~ the Pennsylvania Historical
oocietF. II contains also a manuscript
note Of resolutions BY James Graham
Speaker Of .hc Assembly and the 1irst
Recorder of New York City
There are twcnty-siX imprints BY
William Bradford, tho printed who
came % America with William Penn,
who had his Nrst printing establish
meD- nesr Philadelphia and later
n1ovo1 - New Ycrk, becoming its FIRST
rccoSnized PRINTER. Cther famous i'm
print include sixteen by Fugh Ga;nc,
sixtecn BY JAMES Parker fourteen by
v. Neyran, t.ye b. John Peter zengcr
and ven hv John Holt One rare cx-
ample s b Benjamin Franklin.
Among the rarest New York docu-
mtnts are Laws, Orders & Ordi-
nance Established b. The Mayor, Re-
cordoT, Aldermen and Assistants Of tho
City OF New York. printed by Blad-
ford. l'B1, The Session Laws of 16a5.
b. Bradford: "Au Act Of Parliament
for Ascertalning the Rates of Foreign
CoYnS ln Her MajestY's Plantations in
America by Bradford, 1909: cory OF
the Special Laws Of los, by Bradford
O. which only two copies arc known !;
tne NcIy rave second revision OF th.
Iaws Of 1910 end the third revision
OF the laws of lis: the same fer
ills, cue Of two known COPIES: the cA-
cessFcly rate Bradford imprint Of
Palmer vs. Van Cortlandt' case, 1727
and o,her famous legal contests, official
addresses and acts, including the very
lsre Mercantile Laws Of the State ot
New ork" printed by Francis Childs
and considered the first work Of its
kind pat forth III New York. There il
al unique COW of tnc laws Of tho
State Of New Iork for 1901.
Ine tnIrtecn orlglnai colonies are al
represented by copies of the acts OF
their governments aad some by cope
O. the original charters Of the British
soVereiens- Tho catalogue contains s5t
items Tne collection VII be on view
at tho American art Galleries begin.
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