Investigation into the fifteen gallon law of Massachusetts, before a joint committee of the legislature, which began Jan. 29 and closed Feb. 20, 1839, upon the memorial of Harrison Gray Otis and others for the repeal of the law
Boston: J. H. Buckingham, 1839. 8vo, pp. 111, [1]; removed from binding, light toning to title and final pages, else clean and sound. Concerning a law allowing only purchase of liquor at 15 gallons or above. It was criticized as unfairly privileging the rich, who could buy in such quantities, and was repealed within 2 years. Of particular note in this pamphlet is an addendum slip tipped in, stating "The sentence ... was maliciously altered by some person after the form was ready for the press, and not discovered until the whole edition was worked off." And indeed the text in the original is a bit of a mess, with multiple sly errors and some more obvious complete jumbles, all still kerned and justified so as to escape immediate notice. The result of a disgruntled typesetter perhaps, or a mischievous interloper. Sabin 34959. Item #55909
Price: $250.00
