[Thomas Jefferson]. United States Congress. The Laws of the United States of America. Volume VI[-VII]. Washington City: [Printed by William Duane], 1803[-1805]. First editions, from the personal collection of Thomas Jefferson, with his ownership markings, block initials "T" at signature I, and "I" at signature T (both in Volume VI only), and a few brief marginal notations in Jefferson's hand, of the sixth and seventh volumes of The Laws of the United States, containing acts passed in the Seventh and Eighth Congresses while Jefferson was President, including the text of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in English and French and a law establishing the Library of Congress. Acquired by the Library of Congress in 1815, when Jefferson sold his second great collection of books (the first was lost in a fire) to help rebuild the LOC, which was destroyed in the War of 1812, and likely deaccessioned shortly before 1830.

Bound together in a single volume; octavo in fours (8.25 x 5 inches; 209 x 126 mm.). [2], [2, blank], 191, [1, blank], v, [3, blank], [1], [1, blank], [193]-316, iv, lxxxv, [1, blank], xxvi; [2], [2, blank], 225, [1, blank], vi, [233]-376, v, [1, blank], 36, [2, blank] pages. Contemporary brown calf, covers tooled in blind; spine ruled in blind with manuscript notation in black ink, reading "Vol. VI. VII.," small LOC paper label affixed to top of spine with manuscript notations for "Chap." And "No" matching those on an LOC bookplate; and two morocco labels, in red and green, lettered and ruled in gilt; board edges tooled in gilt; marbled endpapers. Boards rubbed with a few minor blemishes or scratches; spine ends and board edges worn; front joint just starting; rear hinge cracked but secure; corners softly bumped. Text block browned but leaves still supple; a few margins trimmed; foxed throughout. A remarkable volume, in very good condition, from one of the most famous private libraries in U. S. history. Sabin 15558.

Presumably discarded after a Resolution by the Twentieth Congress on May 24, 1828, stating in part: "... be it further resolved That the joint library committee be they hereby are authorized to remove from the library of Congress of in such manner as they may think expedient any duplicate damaged or other work or works not wanted for the use library." Sowerby notes that the LOC only retained Jefferson's copies of the first and fifth volumes of the eight-volume set, and that "These two volumes are the only ones extant of Jefferson's collection of the Laws of the United States. Some volumes seem to have been missing shortly after the printing of the 1815 catalog..."