The Regulations Lately Made concerning the Colonies, and the Taxes Imposed upon Them, considered.

Forced by the Sons of Liberty to swear by oath to never enforce the Stamp Act

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First edition. Boston stamp tax collector Andrew Oliver’s copy; signed on title-page.

Andrew Oliver (1706–1774) was the brother-in-law of Thomas Hutchinson, Massachusetts’ colonial governor. Oliver became a lightning rod for the fury of of the colonists as it was his duty to administer the unpopular Stamp Act. Although privately against the act, Oliver became the most visible target for angry colonists to express their hatred of the Stamp Act, and its larger evil, taxation without representation. The “True-born Sons of Liberty” burned him in effigy in Boston and happily announced his public resignation “under Liberty Tree” on December 17, 1765. After his effigy was burned, Oliver’s house was attacked. He was later forced publicly swear that he would never act as stamp distributor.

Ghostwritten by Thomas Whately, this pro-government pamphlet promoted Lord Grenville’s positions on colonial policies and reinforced the idea that the colonists enjoyed “virtual representation” —while under the thumb of English Parliament. (Lapidus) “By the summer of 1765 the substance of the administration’s justification of its action reached America in the form of pro-government pamphlets. Many of them were reprinted in the newspapers and added fuel to the fire of the colonies’ resistance.” (LCP)

Matt B. Jones’ copy. He “chose things with the finest judgment. They always had to be in good condition; they had to be significant. A Matt Jones book in an American institution today is a book to be proud of….” (Michael Walsh)

Price: $7,500.00