JEFFERSON, THOMAS
Report of the Secretary of State on the Subject of Establishing a Uniformity in the Weights, Measures and Coins of the United States. New York: Childs and Swaine, 1790. First edition, the fourth and final issue of the report and the first issued in an octavo format (the others being folio). Disbound, removed from a pamphlet volume. 7 7/8 x 4 7/8 inches (20.5 x 13 cm); v, [4], 10-49, [1] pp. Disbound with remnants of former binding and stitching holes to far left edge, a signature clipped from the upper margin of the title replaced with modern paper, this offset on the following leaf, the title with an inked numeral and other stains and thumbsoiling, some light spotting and stains throughout mostly along fore-edge, most internal leaves generally clean and without marks.
Jefferson's important treatise on weights, measures and coinage attempted to create a uniformity between the states in order to promote and standardize commerce. While the first three issues were issued in a folio format with changes and corrections made while the work was in the press, this final octavo issue was the version Jefferson kept in his own library. Rare: we trace three copies sold in the past fifteen years. Evans 22997.