First Acts of Congress (Bill of Rights)

Acts Passed at a Congress of the United States of America... New York, Francis Childs and John Swaine [1789].

Lilly Library KF50 1789 vault

These are the first published acts of Congress and contain the first printing of the Bill of Rights. The copy shown was sent from George Washington to Thomas Jefferson and, on a separate sheet laid in, contains the following inscription:

"The President of the United States requests the Secretary of State to accept the enclosed Volume of Laws passed during the first Session of the Congress of the United States. March 29th, 1790."

It was bound for Jefferson by Thomas Allen, No. 16, Queen-Street, New York, and has his binder's label inside the front cover. The outside front cover has a red morocco label stamped in gold "THE SECRETARY OF STATE."