ACTS AND LAWS OF HIS MAJESTY'S COLONY OF RHODE ISLAND, AND PROVIDENCE-PLANTATIONS, IN NEW-ENGLAND, IN AMERICA. Newport, Rhode Island: Widow Franklin, 1745. Folio, unbound (loose signatures.) [2], [16], 308 pp. With Table at front, without the 15-page Charter (printed 1744) often found bound before the present work. ***************** Printed by the sister-in-law of Ben Franklin, Ann Smith Franklin. She would serve as the official printer for the colony for 27 years. Regarding this particular work, she ran afoul of the law for a brief period: "She appears to have been disposed to take a little advantage and to have printed a number of copies of this digest on her own account, without consent of the committee, whereupon the General Assembly, at its session, in June, 1745, passed a vote prohibiting her, or any one in her behalf, from selling any copies within one year from the rising of that Assembly, upon the penalty of £5 for every book so sold" – (Providence Journal, January 23, 1882.)Sabin 70512

Upper corners with paper repairs to the first 15 leaves, last 1/2 with old water-staining to upper corner (near end also stained to lower portion and extends into text, but mostly to margin otherwise, mostly light and faded though approx. last 7 leaves with corner darkened), with some light foxing in places, but paper crisp and generally clean and bright. As-is.