Rare Autographs, Manuscripts and Photography
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/7/2016
AMERICAN REVENUE ACT OF 1864
[BRITISH 1764 SUGAR ACT] Secured by Prime Minster George Grenville, this is the first law passed to tax the colonies for raising revenue for the Crown since the ill-fated Molasses Act of 1733 which was largely nullified by corruption. Bound in attractive hardcover with typed label, 23pp, 8¾"x13½", printed by Mark Baskett, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, London, 1764. The first page states in part: "An Act for granting certain Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America; for continuing, amending, and making perpetual, an Act passed in the Sixth Year of the Rein of His late Majesty King George the Second...for altering and disallowing several Drawbacks on Export from this Kingdom, and more effectually preventing the clandestine Conveyance of Goods to and from the said Colonies and Plantations, and improving and securing the Trade between the same and Great Britain." The Preamble states the case: "Whereas it is expedient that new Provisions and Regulations should be established for improving the Revenue of this Kingdom, and for extending and securing the Navigation and Commerce between Great Britain and your Majesty's Dominions in America, which, by the Peace, have been so happy enlarged: And whereas it is just and necessary, that a Revenue be raised...for defraying the Expences of defending, protecting, and securing the same..." Fine historic document that essentially began the long road to the American Revolution.
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