ACME Auctions Reading Library

Every once in a while we come across items so rare and obscure we feel they should be scanned, preserved and made available to the masses. We plan to focus on very scarce or one of a kind books, documents, ephemera or other items which likely aren't available elsewhere. 

Our first item, a softcover "report" probably printed in 1661 or 1662, is a 1.5 inch thick account of the rules and enactments of Parliament in Great Britain. The title page refers to enactments made on an earlier date of 1625 which reads "Anno Regni Caroli, Regis Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, & Hiberniæ, Primo. At the Parliament begun at Westminster the Eighteenth day of June, Anno Dom. 1625. in the firft (fifth) year of the Reign of our most gracious Sovereign Lord, C H A R L E S, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. And there continued untill the-Eleventh day of July, following, and then adjourned until the firft day of Auguft (August) following, unto Oxford; To the high pleafure of Almight God, and to the Weal publick of this Realm, were enacted as followeth. " -There are other dates further on in this book which has a date of 1661. We believe the front page is just a reference to earlier enactments passed and was printed in 1661 owing to the page numbers. 

This was purchased at a yard sale on the North Fork of Long Island, New York in 2018. We would like to think this item has been kicking around the North Fork since an original settler brought it over with them from England. There were two fragments of a hand written document stuck in two of the pages - which we are also including. 

The first rule on all of these enactments? There shall be no assemblies for unlawful pastimes upon the Lords Day.