The laws of Harvard College

Boston: printed by Samuel Hall, at No. 53, Cornhill, 1790. First edition of the first printed collection of Harvard laws, and apparently the earliest printed laws of any American college; 8vo, pp. 66, [2]; stitching perished and the pamphlet is loose in sheets; half-title with considerable loss in the fore-margin but all of the letterpress is preserved; last leaf of text with marginal chipping affecting the page number; good and the text is clean. With a neat contemporary manuscript note at the bottom of page 7 clarifying a point regarding transfers into the senior class. A comprehensive guide to admission, rules regarding the observation of the Sabbath, attendence, and vaccinations (four required), types of degrees, required residence at commons, the structure of governance, certification of matriculation, etc. Originally, any student admitted to Harvard was required to transcribe the laws of the college. This transcription would then be signed by the president and the student. in 1767 this requirement was amended to have both sign a printed certificate formalizing admission. The admittatur form at the foot of p. 66 has been left blank in this copy. The sections "Of Misdemeqanors and Criminal Offenses" (pp. 21-32) and the library regulations (pp. 41-53) are especially detailed. Evans 22561; Sabin 30749. Item #56156

Price: $1,250.00