[Rarebooks] A Selection of Lawbook Exchange Titles (With Digital Images)

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1.       Exceptional Copy of 1637 Edition of Cowell's Interpreter
Cowell, John [1554-1611]. The Interpreter: Or Booke Containing the
Signification of Words: Wherein is Set Foorth the True Meaning of All,
or the Most Part of Such Words and Termes, as are Mentioned in the
Lawe Writers, or Statutes of This Victorious and Renowned Kingdome,
Requiring Any Exposition or Interpretation. A Worke not Onely
Profitable, but Necessary for Such as Desire Throughly to be
Instructed in the Knowledge of Our Lawes, Statutes, and Other
Antiquities. London: Printed by John Sheares, 1637. Unpaged. Quarto
(5-1/2" x 7-1/2"). Very attractive, well-preserved contemporary
polished calf, blind double frame to boards, raised bands, later tiny
paper label to head of spine. A few minor scuffs and very light wear,
and chipping to endleaves. Interesting early annotations to endleaves,
tiny scratched-out early signature to head of title page, tiny
inkstain to a pair of facing leaves with no loss of legibility,
interior otherwise notably fresh. An exceptional unsophisticated copy.
$2,500.
* Second edition. The Interpreter is considered to be the best law
dictionary until Jacob's and it is still used by scholars of early
English legal documents. Its publication provoked controversy. At a
time when Parliament and crown were vying for power, the Commons
disapproved of Cowell's royalist sympathies, which were evident in
such definitions as "King," "Parliament," "Prerogative," "Recoveries"
and "Subsidies." When a joint committee of Lords and Councilors
reviewed the work, the ensuing controversy nearly halted the affairs
of government. What is more, it contained a quotation that criticized
Littleton's scholarship, which angered Sir Edward Coke. James I
intervened in fear that his own fiscal interests would not be approved
by Parliament. Encouraged by Coke, the king imprisoned Cowell,
suppressed the book and ordered all copies burned by a public hangman
on March 10, 1610. The present edition contains several changes that
were made posthumously to placate the dictionary's enemies. Despite
its stormy reception, The Interpreter remains a useful gloss to Coke's
Littleton and other early legal texts. Walker, The Oxford Companion to
Law 311. Marke, Vignettes of Legal History 309-312. Cowley, A
Bibliography of Abridgments, Digest, Dictionaries and Indexes to the
Year 1800 129. Pollard and Redgrave, A Short-Title Catalogue of Books
Printed in England, Scotland, and Ireland 5901.
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2.   First American Edition of Important Treatise on Real Property
Cruise, William [d.1824]. A Digest of the Laws of England, Respecting
Real Property. Carefully Corrected from the London Copy. New York:
Printed for Alsop, Brannon and Alsop, 1808. Five volumes. Octavo (5-
1/2" x 9-1/2"). Contemporary law calf, blind frames to boards,
lettering pieces and blind rules to spines. Moderate rubbing with some
wear to board edges and joints, a few minor scuffs and stains, corners
bumped. Early bookplates to front pastedowns, signature to head of
each title page in fine early hand. Some offsetting to margins of
endleaves, interiors quite fresh otherwise. A nice set. $1,250.
* First American edition, from the first London edition, 1804-1807, to
which it is starred. This popular digest of the laws of real property
was issued eight times in the United States between 1808 and 1856-
1857. The standard work of its day, it was used as a textbook at
Harvard Law School. Marvin, who said it was "the best book of the kind
to be had until the publication of Kent's Commentaries," attributed
its popularity to its convenience, large number of cases and
"systematic analysis.": Legal Bibliography (1847) 243-244. Cohen,
Bibliography of Early American Law 9459.
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3.                   "The Best Edition"--Lowndes
Grotius, Hugo [1583-1645]. Barbeyrac, Jean [1674-1744], Editor. The
Rights of War and Peace, in Three Books. Wherein are Explained, The
Law of Nature and Nations, and The Principal Points Relating to
Government. Written in Latin by the Learned Hugo Grotius, And
Translated into English. To Which are Added, All the Large Notes of
Mr. J. Barbeyrac. London: Printed for W. Innys [et. al.], 1738. xxxvi,
817 [i.e. 813] pp. Folio (9-1/4" x 14-1/2"). Later three-quarter calf
over pebbled cloth, raised bands, lettering piece, gilt ornaments to
spine compartments, gilt fillets to spine bands and boards, marbled
edges and endpapers. Light rubbing with some wear to spine ends,
corners bumped with some scuffing and wear, joints just starting at
ends. Light foxing to preliminaries, interior otherwise remarkably
fresh. Ex-library. Tiny location number to foot of spine, residue from
label and card pocket to front pastedown and front free endpaper,
small embossed stamp to foot of title page, tiny inkstamp to foot of
following leaf. A very handsome copy. $2,000.
* With indexes of scriptural passages, authors, Greek and Latin terms
and subjects. The "best edition" according to Lowndes. First published
in Paris in 1625, it established the system of modern public
international law, based on the concept of "droit naturel," a
morality-based law that superseded the laws of individuals or nations.
Though based on Christian natural law, Grotius advanced the novel
argument that his system would still be valid if it lacked a divine
basis. In this regard Grotius pointed to the future by moving
international law in a secular direction. This treatise influenced the
leaders of the American Revolution. Jefferson and Washington owned
copies of this edition, which includes extensive annotations by Jean
Barbeyrac, an important authority on natural law. A jurist and
professor of law at Lausanne and Groningen, he was esteemed for his
commentaries on Noodt, Grotius and Pufendorf. His translations played
a crucial role in the dissemination of their work. Lowndes,
Bibliographer's Manual of English Literature, Rev. ed. III:950. Sweet
and Maxwell, A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth of
Nations I: 595. Sowerby, Library of Thomas Jefferson 1404. Boston
Athenaeum, Catalogue of the Washington Collection 531. Printing and
the Mind of Man 125.
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4.          With Comparisons Between Roman and English Laws
Justinian [483-565 C.E.]. Harris, George [1722-1796]], Editor and
Translator. D. Justiniani Institutionum Libri Quatuor: The Four Books
of Justinian's Institutions, Translated Into English, With Notes.
London: Printed by J. Purser; for M. Withers, 1761. xv, 73; [1], 121;
[1], 100; 92; 11, [5] pp. Quarto (8" x 10"). Contemporary calf, blind
frames to boards, rebacked in period style retaining original
lettering piece. Moderate rubbing to boards with a few scuffs, some
wear to corners. Front free endpaper and rear endleaf lacking, title
page and following leaf detached with chipping to edges. Offsetting to
preliminaries and index leaves, light foxing and browning to portions
of text. Early signatures to front pastedown and title page, interior
otherwise clean. $750.
* Second edition. With index. The final section contains Book 118 from
the Novels, "Concerning the Succession of Descendents." First
published in 1756, this edition is notable for its elegant parallel
translation. More important, Harris, an advocate of Doctor's Commons,
added an interesting historical introduction and notes that compare
the rules of Roman and English law. Commissioned by the Emperor
Justinian in 530 C.E., the body of writings known collectively as the
Corpus Juris Civilis preserved and restated all existing Roman law. It
has four books: the Code, Novels, Institutes and Digest. Intended for
students, the Institutes is a synopsis of the reformed legal system.
The Novels, which is the source of this book's final section, is a
compilation of laws enacted during Justinian's reign. Holdsworth, A
History of English Law XII:641. Sweet & Maxwell, A Legal Bibliography
of the British Commonwealth of Nations I: 612.
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5.               Keble's Statutes at Large, 1215-1675.
Keble, Joseph [1632-1710], Compiler. The Statutes at Large in
Paragraphs, From Magna Charta Until This Time, Carefully Examined by
the Rolls of Parliament; With the Titles of Such Statutes as Are
Expired, Repealed, Altered, or Out of Use. Together With the Heads of
Pulton's or Rastel's Abridgments in the Margin, and the Addition of
Above Five Hundred New References from Other Books of the Law: And a
New Table. London: Printed by the Assigns of John Bill and Christopher
Barker, 1676. [iv], 1472, [167] pp. Folio (9-1/2" x 15"). Contemporary
calf, rebacked in period style with raised bands, and blind ornaments.
Some rubbing, a few chips to boards, wear to corners, hinges cracked
but secure. Woodcut Royal arms to title page, attractive woodcut head-
pieces, tail-pieces and decorated initials. Chips and other wear to
fore-edges of a few leaves, chip to fore-edge of another leaf with
minor loss to text. Minor worming to final quarter of index with
negligible loss. A few small ink smudges and light foxing to a few
leaves, interior otherwise fresh. $2,500.
* First edition. With a thorough topical index of all statutes from
Magna Charta to 1675 (27 Car. 2.). The statutes in this volume include
marginal references to reports and other legal works. Expired,
repealed, altered and obsolete statutes are also included. Keble's
Statutes at Large was more accurate than the earlier compilations of
Rastell, Barker and Pulton, which he aimed to render obsolete. Later
updated editions were published in 1681, 1684, 1695 and 1706.
Holdsworth, A History of English Law VI:312-313. Wing, Short-Title
Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and
British America K117.
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6.                  1834 New York Treatise on Dower
Lambert, Eli. A Treatise on Dower: Comprising a Digest of the American
Decisions, and the Provisions of the Revised Statutes of the State of
New-York. New York: Gould, Banks, and Company, 1834. iv, [1], [7]-162
pp. Octavo (5" x 8-1/2"). Contemporary three-quarter calf over paper
boards, blind rules and lettering piece to spine. Some rubbing with
light wear to joints and corners, some tiny ink spots to boards. Early
signatures to heads of front board and title page. Occasional light
foxing and browning, interior otherwise fresh. $200.
* With an appendix of forms. "From various authors, and scattered
decisions on the subject of dower, I have attempted to condense its
principles in this small treatise.... I knew of no distinct treatise
on the subject of dower, which, at the same time, embodied the
American decisions, and this circumstance led to the compilation of
the following..." (iii). Marvin, Legal Bibliography (1847) 445. Cohen,
Bibliography of Early American Law 9484.
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7.                 New York Colonial Laws, 1664-1775
[Lincoln, Charles Z[ebina], Johnson, William H., Northrup, A[nsel]
Judd]. The Colonial Laws of New York from the Year 1664 to the
Revolution, Including the Charters to the Duke of York, The
Commissions and Instructions to Colonial Governors, The Duke's Laws,
The Laws of the Dongan and Leisler Assemblies, The Charters of Albany
and New York and the Acts of the Colonial Legislatures from 1691 to
1775 Inclusive. Transmitted to the legislature by the Commissioners of
Statutory Revision, Pursuant to Chapter 125 of the Laws of 1891.
Albany: James B. Lyon, 1894. Five volumes. Octavo (6" x 9"). Original
law calf, blind frames to boards, red and black lettering pieces to
spines. Moderate rubbing, chipping to spine ends, joints worn or
cracked, a few boards detached, hinges cracked. Early owner stamp to
each front pastedown. Light offsetting to endleaves, interiors
otherwise clean and bright. A good candidate for rebacking. $750.
* First edition. This was the first complete compilation of New York
colonial laws. Except as modified by amendment or repeal, these
remained in force until 1828, when they were unilaterally repealed by
the state legislature. Catalogue of the Library of the Harvard Law
School (1909) II:203. Babbitt, Hand-List of Legislative Sessions and
Session Laws 349 (Babbitt gives an incorrect publication date of
1895).
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8.             Popular Eighteenth Century English JP Manual
Nelson, William [b.1653]. The Office and Authority of a Justice of a
Peace: Collected Out of All the Books, Whether of Common or Statute
Law, Hitherto Written on that Subject. Shewing also the Duty of
Constables, Commissioners of Sewers, Coroners, Overseers of the Poor,
Surveyors of the Highways, Church-wardens, and other Parish-Officers:
Digested Under Alphabetical Titles. To which are Added English
Precedents, of Indictments, Warrants, &c. Never Before Printed.
Corrected, Amended and Continued Down to this Present Year: With an
Introduction, Shewing the Antiquity and Authority of Justices of the
Peace, by the Common and Statute Law; Also a Large Appendix and Two
Tables, One of the General Heads, and the Other of Precedents Under
Each Head. London: Printed by E. and R. Nutt, and R. Gosling, 1736.
Two volumes. Octavo (5" x 7-1/2"). Contemporary calf, blind fillets to
boards, raised bands. Some rubbing and a few small scuffs, wear to
board edges, corners, and spine ends, lettering pieces lacking, joints
and hinges cracked but secure, front free endpaper of both volumes
detached. Early signatures and annotations to endleaves, "W W C" to
fore-edge of Volume II. Faint dampstaining to a few leaves, interiors
otherwise clean and bright. A good candidate for rebacking. $500.
* Eleventh edition. This was one of the standard treatises of its day.
Originally published in 1704, the final edition of this popular book,
the twelfth, was issued in 1745. It synthesized English law, tradition
and practice of justices of the peace and arranged it alphabetically.
An interesting feature is the outline of duties and procedures for
English justices, which is presented in the form of a vade mecum.
Sweet & Maxwell, A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth of
Nations I:230.
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