Stamp Act Repeal

Anno Regni Georgii III. An Act to Repeal and Act made in the last Session of Parliament, Intituled, An Act for Granting and Applying Certain Stamp Duties, and other Duties, in the British Colonies and Plantations in America, towards further defraying the Expenses of Defending, Protecting, and Securing the same; and for Amending such parts of the several Acts of Parliament, Relating to the Trade and Revenues of the said Colonies and Plantations, as Direct the Manner of Determining and Recovering the Penalties and Forfeitures therein Mentioned.

London: Mark Baskett, 1766. [2lpp with printed cover. 243-244pp.

A fine copy in a custom cloth clamshell case and leather label.

The official British folio printing of the Parliamentary Act repealing the notorious Stamp Act, passed at the session just after the Stamp Act was passed, due to the outrage it caused in the colonies.

After its successful effort in the French and Indian War, the British government was saddled with a massive debt. Added to this was the cost of administering its new lands in Canada, and the necessity of protecting colonists on the American frontier from Indian attacks.

In order to raise funds for the border defenses, the British Parliament decided to levy a tax directly on the colonists, rather than relying on colonial legislatures to raise the funds themselves (the colonies having a notoriously spotty track record in such efforts). Over the protests of colonial agents in London, including Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania and Jared Ingersoll of Connecticut, a tax was levied on all legal and commercial papers, pamphlets, newspapers, almanacs, cards, and dice. A Stamp Office was created in Britain, and Stamp Inspectors were to be assigned to each colonial district. Colonists wishing to purchase or use any of the materials covered in the Act would be required to buy a stamp. The outrage in the colonies at this form of taxation was immediate and overwhelming, and the Stamp Act was repealed in 1766. The bitterness engendered by the Act lingered on in its wake, however.

An important piece of colonial American history.

Rare with only six copies recorded by EST and six auction appearances ever.

From Catalog IV

The repeal, as enacted, in the official session printing. The Act's single clause undid the Stamp Act; the Declaratory Act passed the same day reserved Parliament's right to bind the colonies 'in all cases whatsoever,' and the collection's copy is a reminder that the celebration of 1766 was premature by a decade.