188. [Revolutionary War]. Historic original printed broadside poem, entitled “AMERICAN TAXATION - Or the spirit of Seventy-six, exemplified in a song written in the golden days which tried men’s Soul’s.” Broadside measures (11 x 18 in.; 279 x 457 mm.), being boldly printed in rich black, on fine quality early wove paper. It is archivally and expertly laid onto an acid-free tissue for preservation. There are some slight minor marginal tears in the top and bottom selvage, with a piece of the upper far right corner missing, not affecting any of the printed text.

Revolutionary War Era broadside “AMERICAN TAXATION - Or The Spirit Of Seventy-six, exemplified in a song written in the Golden Days which Tried Men’s Souls”, a 36 stanza poem.

This outstanding, 36 stanza song or poem, which is directed against the British Taxation of the American colonies, a source of ire (“Taxation Without Representation”) that eventually led to the Revolutionary War. Some sample verses read, in part:

While I relate my story, Americans give ear,
Of Britain’s fading glory you presently shall hear;
I’ll give a true relation, attend to what I say,
Concerning the taxation of North America...
We have a bold commander who fears not sword or gun,
A second Alexander, his name is WASHINGTON;
His men are all collected and ready for the ëfray,
To fight they are directed for North America....

This work was originally written during the Revolutionary War but was not published and printed until 1783 in Hartford, CT. The light wove paper and typeface indicates that this Broadside was probably printed as a patriotic piece sometime ca. 1783, at the official end of the Revolutionary War with the signing of our Peace Treaty with England. This is a most important printing of the period, as it touches upon many of the reasons for fighting the Revolutionary War.

An historic and important Revolutionary War-era printed broadside commemorating American Taxation by the British and George Washington. $3,000 - $5,000