Law

London: [London:] In Ædibus Ricardi Tottell duodecimo Nouembris. (1565.) [colophon:] In ædibus Richardi Tottelli. Anno Salutis. 1565. 12. Nouembris., 1565. 2nd Edition . Leather. Very Good. Description: Two volumes in one. Folio (16 × 10½ in): [1], 379; [1], 128, 1, 3-5, 5-207 l. · Register: 2º: A-2Z^8 2['et' sigla]^8 2['con' sigla]^4 ²A^8 3B-Q^8 3R1 (A2, A3, A4 signed 'A1', 'A2', 'A3'; 3B1 signed 'b'); A^8(-A8) B-V^8 W^8 X-Z^8 &^8 *^8 (new register and pagination begins at 'Obligacion' in second volume). · Condition: Early calf boards with wear, rebacked; front joint cracked, but cords secure. First title-page remargined, some color added to woodcut frame. First title-page and first and last pages somewhat soiled; remainder wide-margined and clean, with exceptionally clear print. · Comments: Second edition. The first edition was printed between 1514 and 1517 and was one of the largest… Read More

London: Richard Tottel, 1569. Hardcover. Good +. 16 leaves, 444 [442] leaves, complete. Leaves 173-174 omitted in the numbering, 362 numbered 360, 439 numbered 437. 29 cm. Engraved decorative initials. Bound in half brown leather with brown cloth. Lower corners bumped. Small mark on upper spine. Bookplate, notation, and stain on newer front pastedown, cut to reveal notation on original pastedown below. Bookplate for Nathaniel Lindley on front pastedown and ink signature of Lindley, 1849, on a front leaf. Signature of E. Bunney, Inner Temple, at top of title page. Small ink notations or marks on 13 pages near beginning. Last page of text dampstained and a little loose. Mark on inner margin of leaf 382. Small tear in bottom of one front index page. A first edition of the first modern treatise of English law, its title translating to "The Laws and Customs of England." Preface by T.N. whose identity has never been discovered. Henry of Bracton composed the De Legibus between 1250 and 1256. He based his… Read More

1789. Paris, Chez Baudouin, Imprimeur de l'Assamblée Nationale, 1789. 8vo. Bound in an exquisite later red half morocco with gilt spine. Top edge gilt. (1) f. (title-page), 8 pp. ("Déclaration des droits de l'Homme en société"), 6 pp. ("Articles de Constitution"), (1) f. ("Réponse du Roi"), (1) f. (blank). Woodcut head-pieces. Title-page slightly bowned, otherwise in excellent condition. A truly excellent copy. The exceedingly scarce true first printing, in an incredibly rare form of off-print/separate printing, of one of the most important and influential documents in the history of mankind, namely the French Human Rights Declaration, containing also the articles for the first French Constitution. This groundbreaking publication constitutes a monumental change in the structure of the human world, providing all citizens with individual rights that we now take for granted. This monument of humanist thought appeared in the "Procès verbal de l'Assemblée Nationale", copies of which are also… Read More

1565. Frankfurt, 1565. 3rd ed with 6 plates by Amman. Frankfurt, 1565. 3rd ed with 6 plates by Amman. A Digest of the Military Law and Practice of the Holy Roman Empire With Six Large, Strikingly Detailed Folding Plates Fronsberger, Leonhardt. [Amman, Jost (1539-1591), Illustrations]. Von Kayserlichem Krieg rechten, Malefitz und Schuldhandlen, Ordnung und Regiment: Samt Derselbigen unnd Andern hoch oder Niderigen Beuelch, Bestallung, Staht und Empter, Zu Rossz und Fu , An Geschutz und Munition, In Zug und Schlachtordnung, Zu Feld, Berg, Thal, Wasser und Land, Vor oder in Besatzungen, Gegen oder von Feinden Furzunemen, Welcher Art Sitten Herkommen und Gebrauch, Under und bey Regierung de Allerdurchleuchtigstenm Gro machttigsten, Unuberwindlichsten, Und Krieg erfahrnen berumptisten Romischen Keysers Caroli de Funfften, Hochloblichster unseligster Gedechtni , Geubt Ungebraucht, In Zehen Bucher Abgetheilt, Vergleichen nie is Gesehen Worden, Von Neuwen Beschrieben und antag Geben durch Leonhardt… Read More

1798. Late Eighteenth-Century Account Book of a Notable New York Attorney and Private Secretary to American Founder John Jay [Manuscript]. Remsen, John Henry [1772-1798]. [Account Book]. New York City, 1795-1798. [xxiii], 326 pp. With a thumb-tabbed index of cases. Quarto (9-1/2" x 7-1/2"). Reverse calf, blind fillets and panels to boards, rebacked retaining parts of existing spine, raised bands, blind ornaments and lettering piece (reading "Register") to spine, marbled endpapers. Moderate rubbing with wear to extremities, a few stains and slash marks to boards, hinges cracked, front free endpaper and preliminary leaves loose, one leaf and parts of two others removed. Moderate toning to interior, text in neat hand to rectos and versos of most leaves, a few early manuscript jottings to front endleaf, small library stamp and marks to its verso. $6,500. * Remsen was a high-profile New York lawyer and notary public who served as private secretary to John Jay, New York governor and the first chief justice… Read More

1900. Wien & Leipzig, Wilheml Braumüller, 1900. 8vo. In contemporary half cloth with gilt lettering to spine. Endpapers brownspotted. Offprint from: "Zeitschrift für Volkswirtschaft, Socialpolitik und Verwaltung", Achter Band. 'Vom Verfasser' inscribed on upper right corner of title-page. With previous owner's dedication to pasted down front end-paper: "An H. Furuja (Oct. 1947) / Seiichi Tobata Leipzig August 1928", and to verso of front free end-paper: "Zugleich / S. S. 129-360 von Eugen von Böhm -Bawerk: Kleine / Abhandlungenåuber Kapital und Zins, hrsg von / Franz X. Weiss. 1926 Wien und Leipzig". A fine copy. (4), 127, (1) pp. Presentation copy of the rare offprint, being also the first separate edition, of this important contribution to the problems of capital theory, in which Böhm-Bawerk elaborates and defends his theories presented in 'Positive Theory of Capital' (1889). Bohm-Bawerk's thoughts on capital and interest also exerted great influence on many American economists, in… Read More

Approximately 3200 booking records (approximately 20 of which have been contemporaneously blotted-out) numbered 37888 to 41109 accompanied by individual 2 x 3 inches photographs and description of the person and their alleged crime. Full brown cloth. Front board separated at hinge (see image). Marbled endpapers. Index of names in alphabetical order. Lacking page 289/290. Heavy shelf wear given the size, weight and regular usage; moisture mark to lower edge. [52], 358 pp. 16.5 x 19.65 in.; 24 pounds (10.8 Kilo)

1589 ENORMOUS LAW Corpus Juris Civilis Justinian Codex Digest Godefroy 6v SET

"Freedom is the natural ability of everyone to do what he likes, unless it is prohibited by law or by force."
― Justinian I
Justinian's 'Corpus Juris Civilis' is unquestionably the fundamental work on law and jurisprudence! Parts of this work were originally intended to be used by law students, but they were not solely used as a textbook – they carried legal weight …as law! It includes four distinct parts – Codex, Digest, Institutes, and Novellae – each written with a different purpose.
'Digest' or 'Pandectae' is a collection of juristic treatises taken from various legal writings of Ulpian and Paulus. 'Codex'
was the Justinian's attempt at organizing the laws in a systematic manner – each of these works is included in this enormous 16th-century six-volume edition.
The Godefroy editions of this iconic work were influential in the law field well into the 20th-century. While Godefroy was known as a jurist, his… Read More

1632. One of 4 early books on the English Law of Women. One of 4 early books on the English Law of Women. The Earliest Work in English About Laws Relating to Women E[dgar], T[homas] (fl. 1615-1649), Attributed]. The Lawes Resolutions of Womens Rights: Or, The Lawes Provision for Woemen. A Methodicall Collection of Such Statutes and Customes, With the Cases, Opinions, Arguments and Points of Learning in the Law, As Doe Properly Concerne Women. Together with a Compendious Table, Whereby the Chiefe Matters in This Booke Contained, May Be the More Readily Found. London: Printed for the Assignes of John More Esq., 1632. [xiv], 404 pp. First leaf in collation, a blank, lacking. Quarto (7-1/2" x 5-1/2"). Contemporary speckled calf, rebacked in period style, gilt fillets and lettering piece to spine, gilt tooling to board edges, corners mended, endpapers renewed, speckled edges. Light rubbing to boards, tiny nick to lettering piece. Light toning to text, light foxing to a few leaves. Housed in a custom… Read More

London: George Nicol, 1792. 4to, Contemporary tan calf, with 7 plates of plans and charts including a fine engraved oval portrait frontispiece of Bligh by Conde after Russell, folding plan of the Bounty, folding plan of the Bounty's launch, a plate of bread-fruit, and 4 other plans and charts (3 folding)
RARE FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SEA TALES IN ALL OF MARITIME LITERATURE.
On their way to introduce the bread-fruit as a cash crop to the West Indies from the South Sea Island, "Bread-fruit Bligh" and eighteen of his crew were set adrift by Fletcher Christian, the master's mate of the "Bounty," and made a journey of about 4000 miles in an open boat before landing on the East Indian island of Timor. Several of the mutineers, who had settled on Pitcairn Island, were eventually captured and three were executed in England. "An extremely important book" (Hill, p. 27). Interestingly enough, Bligh was subjected to two further mutinies in his career, though only the last, in New South Wales, can… Read More

1500. A Landmark in the History of Economic Theory Summenhart, Konrad [1465-1511]. Septipertitu[m] Opus de Contractibus Pro Foro C[on]scientie Atq[ue] Theologico P[er] Conradu[m] Su[m]menhart de Calwartiu[m] ac Sacre Theologie P[ro]fessorem in Alma Universitate Tubingensi Ordinarie Legentem Co[m]pilatu[m] et per Centum Questiones Digestum ac per Eundem Quo ad Pregnantium Questionum At[que] Difficultatem Habentium Uberiores Articulos Ibidem Disputatum. Haguenau: Heinrich Gran for Johannes Rynman, 13 October 1500. 433 ff. Lacking final leaf, a blank. Collation: AA-BB8, CC6, DD-EE8, a-b8, c-d6, e8, f6, g8, h-i6, k-l8, m6, n-r8, s10, t6, v8, x-z6, aa-bb6, cc4, dd-ff6, gg8, hh-ll6, A-C6, D-H8, I10, K8, L12, M8, N-P6, Q8, R6, S-V8, X-Y6. Text in parallel columns. Folio (11" x 8"; 28 x 20 cm). Incunabula Short-Title Catalogue (ISTC) is00863000. OCLC and the ISTC locate 8 copies in North American law libraries (University of Michigan, Harvard, Columbia, Library of Congress (2 copies), Yale, Emory,… Read More

Founding Royal ordinance for the Corps of Invalids of New Spain
Antonio Maria Bucareli y Ursua (1717-1779, Viceroy of New Spain).
Reglamento formado para el cuerpo de invalidos de Nueva España por el Excmo. Sr. Bailio Fr. D. Antonio Maria Bucareli y Ursua Virrey Governador y Capitan General de ella, aprobado por S. M. en Real Orden de trece de Junio de 1773.
Mexico City, Joseph Antonio de Hogal, 1774.
Folio. [2], 19, [1 blank] pp. Collates: π, A-D2, π.
With the woodcut Royal coat of arms on the title. Signature of Viceroy Bucareli in ink on the final page.
Modern stiff marbled paper covers, leaves remargined in order to match the size of the volume. In linen made-to-measure case with title on front.
Very rare first and only edition of the founding document for the establishment of the Corps of Invalids in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. This Royal ordinance marks a crucial step in the military organisation of the Spanish Americas and greatly expanded the colonial military presence there.The Cuerpo de… Read More

Founding document and constitution of the Republic of Colombia
Simón Bolívar (1783-1830).
Constitucion de la Republica de Colombia.
Rosario de Cucuta [but Bogotá], Bruno Espinosa, Impresor de Gob. Gral., 1821.- 11°.
4°. 66 pp. (lacks V pp. preliminaries). Collates: π, B-I4, [K1].
Later half calf with decorated paper sides.
First edition of the first constitution of Gran Colombia, known as the Constitution of Cúcuta. A monument of post-colonial liberty and arguably the most important book ever printed in Latin America. Gran Colombia consisted of current Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru, western Guyana and northwest Brazil. This is one of the very few copies that were printed of the first edition. A decree in this volume prints the order to reprint the constitution at Bogota in two or three thousand copies and to print one thousand copies of a Caracas edition. Rio and Philadelphia would also print editions in 1822.The publication of this document meant the realization of Simón… Read More

Artist book in the "International mail art event and simultaneous exhibitions in three cities--NYC, Denver, Seattle." Presented in 1990 with Women's Studio Workshop (NY) in an edition of 60, "distributed to 50 people around the world in the fields of politics, art, the media, science, education, and religion who held positions on both sides" (Sollod Studio, 2023).
A unique and provocative piece of American political history, art activism, third-wave feminism, and the continued struggle for human rights and reproductive freedom. Owned by a selection of world leaders and policy and public-opinion influencers* (see the complete distribution list below), this artifact is scarcely offered for purchase. As relevant now as ever, this exceptionally rare volume is an exhilarating addition to any collection.
This is the signed artist's proof. Twenty-four accordion-fold leaves bound in cloth cover boards. Lithography, relief, and hand-coloring printing methods with Bembo typeface on Rives heavyweight paper.
27 x… Read More

Scarborough Borough. Yorkshire, 1854. Fine. 22 34 4. Brown leather binding with red title plate and gilt title on the front board. Marbled endpapers.
A truly fascinating read
This is the original gaol copy of the >Borough of Scarborough Gaol Sessions of 1854. The book is in great condition with 100's of very legible handwritten entries. A superb snapshot of mid Victorian English life.
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Until the nineteenth century, most prisons in England and Wales were administered locally and were not the responsibility of the central government. They were used primarily for the correction of minor offenders and to hold suspects awaiting trial or punishment. Lists of prisoners may be found in many local records, but usually consist of little more than names and information about offence and sentence. In the nineteenth century, the use of imprisonment as a punishment expanded massively, and the central government became much more involved in the ownership and administration of prisons,… Read More