THE PAPERS OF JAMES MADISON, PURCHASED BY ORDER OF CONGRESS; BEING HIS CORRESPONDENCE AND REPORTS OF DEBATES DURING THE CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION AND HIS REPORTS OF DEBATES IN THE FEDERAL CONVENTION; NOW PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS, DEPOSITED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, BY DIRECTION OF THE JOINT LIBRARY COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF HENRY D. GILPIN

Mobile: Austin Mygatt, 1842. Three volumes, each in publisher's calf, each with a black band at base of spine. Morocco spine titles. lii, 582, xxi, [1 blank]; xxiii, [3], [581]-1242; xvi, [2], [1243]-1624, clxviii, [8 leaves facsimile signatures] pp, as issued. Scattered light foxing. Good+.

The papers were first printed in Washington in 1840; a New York set issued in 1841. Our Mobile edition is the third. The Papers derive their great significance from Madison's invaluable notes on the Federal Constitutional Convention. Madison's notes have been the touchstone of historians and jurists seeking the Founders' understanding of the document they created.
The first volume prints Jefferson's notes on "The debates in 1776 on the Declaration of Independence, and on a few of the Articles of Confederation," Madison's Letters Preceding the Debates of 1783, "Debates in the Congress of the Confederation from November 4, 1782, to June 21, 1783, and additional letters. A detailed index accompanies each volume.
Sabin 43716. Ellison 450. (Inventory #: 40393)