Pennsylvania. Laws, statutes, etc.

An act for the regulation of the militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. [with] Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von. Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the United States.

      Lancaster (PA) John R. Mathews 1807 12mo (17.2 cm, 6.75"). 64, 5-85 (lacking prelim. ff., pp. 1-4 &81/82), [1 (blank)] pp. (lacking plts.). Developing state and private militia companies proved to be a troublesome issue for Pennsylvania well into the 18th century, largely because of Quaker influence; the first Militia Act was not passed until 1755, and the first document in this 1807 volume implies that the system was still in flux, at least to some degree. The militia regulations passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1807, here in a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, imprint of the same year, update and in some particulars supercede the Act of 1802; they are here bound as issued with Baron von Steuben's classic military treatise printed in the same year by the same publisher. Commonly referred to as the "Blue Book" (for the color of its original wrappers), the Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops was written by Von Steuben, the first Inspector General of the United States Army, based on his experience training Washington's troops at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. First printed in 1779, it remains in use, in modified form, even today-and its combination here with another contemporary document of obvious importance for soldiers and officers, with a Pennsylvania provenance and in an original binding, provides a very pleasing artifact of military history Provenance: Among several early ownership inscriptions on the front pastedown and title-page is one reading "John Ebling Captain." Several different John Eblings, most hailing from Berks County, PA, are recorded as having served in Pennsylvania companies. Act: Shaw & Shoemaker 13330/13331 (second listing giving this pagination but not identifying second work). Regulations: Shaw & Shoemaker 13649. Both: Sabin 91457. Contemporary mottled sheep, showing expectable damage from acid binding treatment, wear, and a few pin-type wormholes. Early inked ownership inscriptions as described above, one dated 1828. Many corners dog-eared; pages gently age-toned with some darker spotting. Second work with plates, preliminary leaves, title-page, and pp. 81/82 lacking; some leaves loosening. With faults but still fascinating.