1774/1775-Dated Revolutionary War Period, rare true first original Official Eyre & Strahan Session printing of the “New England Restraining Act” (also called the New England Trade and Fisheries Act), 15 George III, Chapter 10. It was passed by the newly elected Fourteenth Parliament and received Royal Assent on March 30, 1775 by the Fourteenth Parliament of Great Britain titled: “An Act to restrain the Trade and Commerce of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, and Colonies of Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation, in North America, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Islands in the West Indies; and to prohibit such Province and Colonies from carrying on any Fishery on the Banks of Newfoundland, or other Places therein mentioned, under certain Conditions and Limitations.” Choice Crisp Mint.
An Act to restrain the Trade and Commerce of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, and Colonies of Connecticut, and Rhode Island, and Providence Plantation, in North America... and to prohibit such Province and Colonies from carrying on any Fishery on the Banks of Newfoundland... London: Printed by Charles Eyre and William Strahan, Printers to the King's most Excellent Majesty, 1775. Folio, 13 pages (paginated 295-307), 15 Geo. III, c. 10; large Royal Arms woodcut at head of first page, Session dated at Westminster November 29, 1774; disbound from the official session Acts, as issued. An exceptionally fresh, crisp and untoned original imprint with wide margins; a superior example of a landmark historic Act on the road to Revolution.

The "1774" date on this Imprint certainly comes from the first Session-dating of the Convention on the caption/title page, with: official Eyre & Strahan printing open, "At the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth Day of November... 1774," because the 1774-75 Session convened that November 29th, so this ACT is genuinely from the 1774-75 Session but is properly dated “1775” when signed by the King. This “New England Restraining Act” was the last British legislative blow by Royal Assent on March 30, 1775 issued about two weeks before before the shooting started at Lexington & Concord, April 19th, 1775.

The “Restraining Act” is the close sequel to the prior INTOLERABLE ACTS: Parliament's punitive response to the Continental Congress's trade boycott (the Continental Association) and to New England's open defiance. It confined the four colonies' trade to Britain, Ireland, and the British West Indies and most cruelly (in New England’s eyes), it barred them from the Newfoundland cod fishery, striking at the region's economic lifeblood. A second act issued in April 1775 extended the restraints to most of the remaining American Colonies. Benjamin Franklin famously observed that Britain was making war on New England's livelihood; while Burke's great speech on “Conciliation” made on March 22, 1775, was delivered in Parliament against this very measure. The restriction of trade to the West Indies, which was extremely important to the economy of the American Colonies, was another major grievance. Within three weeks of the Act’s Royal Assent, the American Revolution was started at Lexington and Concord made the point moot.

This is the Official Printed Act, having 12 pages, Complete, measuring 12.25” x 7.75” plus its ornate Cover Page, disbound. Titled, “Anno Regni Georgii III, Regis Magnae Britanniae, Franciae & Hiberniae, Decimo Quinto,” meaning, “The 15th Year of the Reign of George III, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland” - “London: Printed by Charles Eyre and William Strahan, Printers to the King’s most Excellent Majesty. - M DCC LXXV. (1775).” The pages of this Act as an official government record. Therefore, the quality is expected to be high and, in this case, it is - the paper is bright, with full large margins, fresh in appearance and boldly printed.
March 30, 1775-Dated Revolutionary War Period, this was Parliament's punitive answer to the Continental Congress's trade boycott, confining the four New England colonies' commerce to the British sphere and barring their vessels from the Newfoundland cod fishery, the region's economic lifeblood.

Debated against Burke's celebrated plea for conciliation and also denounced by Benjamin Franklin as war upon New England's subsistence. It stands among the last legislative blows struck against America before the shooting began at Lexington and Concord just three weeks later. An exceptionally fresh, crisp and untoned original imprint with wide margins; a superior example of a landmark on the road to Revolution.

George III succeeded his grandfather, George II, to the British throne in 1760 and ruled for 60 years -- one of the longest reigns in British history. Caught in the midst of political turmoil at home and overseas, he was blamed for the loss of the American Colonies. He became blind and incompetent before his death.
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