One of the Standard American Texts of the Nineteenth Century Story, Joseph [1779-1845]. Commentaries on the Law of Bills of Exchange, Foreign and Inland, As Administered in England and America; With Occasional Illustrations from the Commercial Law of the Nations of Continental Europe. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1853. xxx..... More

Convicted for Strangling His Pregnant Wife: McDade 335 [Trial]. Getter, Charles [d.1833], Defendant. The Trial of Charles Getter, For the Murder of His Wife; Late of Forks Township, Northampton County, And Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, In the Court of Oyer and Terminer, And General Goal Delivery, Held at Easton, In and..... More

Annual Reports of the Prison Discipline Society, 1826-1829 Prison Discipline Society. First Annual Report of the Board of Managers of the Prison Discipline Society, Boston, June 2, 1826. Sixth Edition. Boston: Published by Perkins and Marvin, 1830. 48 pp. Woodcut diagram. [With] Second Annual Report of the Board of Managers..... More

Cruelty Against a Woman, Or a Political Hatchet Job? Marie, Jane. The Case of Jane Marie, Exhibiting the Cruelty and Barbarous Conduct of James Ross, To a Defenceless Woman. Written and Published by the Object of His Cruelty and Vengeance, And Addressed to the Public of Philadelphia and the Whole..... More

Stephen Field's Personal Reminiscences Field, Stephen J. [1816-1899]. Personal Reminiscences of Early Days in California, With Other Sketches. To Which is Added the Story of His Attempted Assassination by a Former Associate on the Supreme Bench of the State. By Hon. George C. Gorman. [Washington, D.C.]: Printed for a Few..... More

Pre-Fire San Francisco Imprint Smyth, John H. [1830-1888]. The Law of Homestead and Exemptions. San Francisco: Sumner Whitney & Co., 1875. 467 pp. Octavo (9" x 5-3/4"). Later library buckram, gilt title to spine, endpapers renewed. A few minor nicks to boards, light rubbing to extremities, corners bumped. Moderate toning..... More

An 1860 Illinois Divorce Case that Dominated Headlines Throughout the United States [Trial]. Burch v. Burch. Only Complete Report of the Burch Divorce Case; Containing a History of the Case--The Preliminary Movements, The "Confession" of Mrs. Burch, Opening and Closing Speeches of Counsel, The Deposition of Parties Implicated, and All..... More

A True Philadelphia Lawyer Brown, David Paul [1795-1872]. The Forum; or Forty Years Full Practice at the Philadelphia Bar. Philadelphia: Robert H. Small, 1856. Two volumes. Illustrated. Octavo (9" x 6"). Original pebbled cloth, blind frames to boards, gilt titles and ornaments and a negligible bit of shelf-label residue to..... More

Unrecorded London Edition Story, Joseph [1779-1845]. A Discourse Pronounced at the Request of the Essex Historical Society, On the 18th of September, 1828, In Commemoration of the First Settlement of Salem, In the State of Massachusetts. Published at the Request of the Society. London: R.J. Kennett, 59, Great Queen Street;..... More

A Lethal Barroom Brawl in Pennsylvania [Manuscript]. [Pennsylvania]. [Witness Testimony in Commonwealth v. Hartman et al.]. Berks County, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1874. [30] ff. 12-1/2" x 7-3/4" ruled sheets held together with brass tabs at top-edge, text in single neat hand to rectos. Light toning, slight creasing near top-edge, occasional..... More

Inscribed by Holmes Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr. [1841-1935]. Speeches. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1891. [v], 55 pp. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5-1/2"). Original paper-covered boards, title in frame to front board, deckle edges. Light rubbing to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities with light wear to corners, calf bookplate of Alfred..... More

First Edition of a Scarce Maryland Formbook [Formbook]. [Maryland]. The New American Clerk's Magazine, And Complete Practical Conveyancer. Containing the Most Useful and Necessary Precedents in Conveyancing, As Settled and Approved by the Most Eminent Conveyancers; With Observations and References to the Laws, &c. With a Variety of Other Useful..... More

Livingston's Influential Code of Reform and Prison Discipline Livingston, Edward [1764-1836]. A Code of Reform and Prison Discipline: To Which is Prefixed, An Introductory Report to the Same. With an Introduction by Salmon P. Chase, LL.D., Chief Justice of the United States. New York: Published under the Auspices of the..... More

"One of the Great Pleasures of the Legal Bibliophile" Jacobsen, Frederick J. [1774-1822]. Frick, William [1790-1855], Translator. Laws of the Sea, With Reference to Maritime Commerce, During Peace and War. From the German by William Frick. Baltimore: Published by Edward J. Coale, 1818. xxxv, 636 pp. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5-1/4")..... More

Every Pennsylvanian His Own Lawyer A Gentleman of the Bar. The Pocket Companion; Or, Every Man His Own Lawyer: Containing a Variety of Precedents, Laid Down in So Plain a Manner, That the Farmer, Mechanic, Apprentice, Or School Boy, Can Draw Any Instrument of Writing Without the Assistance of an..... More

New York City in 1817 [New York City]. Laws and Ordinances Ordained and Established by the Mayor, Aldermen, And Commonalty of the City of New-York, By Common Council Convened, During the Mayoralty of Jacob Radcliff. To Which is Added, The Law of the State of New-York Relative to the Transportation..... More

The Law of Carriers, Hotels, Bars and Warehouses Jeremy, Henry. The Law of Carriers, Inn-Keepers, Warehousemen, And Other Depositories of Goods for Hire. London, Printed: New York: Reprinted and Published by I. Riley, 1816. vii, 163 [i.e. 139], [5] pp. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5"). Contemporary three-quarter calf over marbled boards..... More

First Separate Printing of Brackenridge's Eloquent Defense of Religious Liberty for Maryland Jews [Brackenridge, Henry Marie (1786-1871)]. Niles' Weekly Register. New Series. No. 14-Vol. IV. Baltimore, May 29, 1819. [Baltimore]: Printed and Published by H. Niles, [1819]. 225-240 pp. Octavo (9-3/4" x 6-1/4"). Disbound, leaves starting to separate at ends..... More

Murdered with Poisoned Sleeping Pills: McDade 444 Harris, Carlyle [1869-1893]. [Harris, Francis McCreedy], Editor. Articles, Speeches and Poems of Carlyle W. Harris. Edited by "Carl's Mother" (Hope Ledyard). New York: J.S. Ogilvie, [1893]. 205 pp. Portrait frontispiece. Octavo (7-1/4" x 4-3/4"). Original cloth, blind fillets to front board, gilt title..... More

New York JP Manual Arranged According to the Code of Civil Procedure Throop, Montgomery H. [1827-1892], Editor. The New York Justice's Manual, Containing All the Laws of the State, Relating to the Official Tenure and Duties of a Justice of the Peace, And the Proceedings in Civil Cases Before Him..... More

"A Major Step in the Transformation of Equity" Story, Joseph [1779-1845]. Commentaries on Equity Jurisprudence, As Administered in England and America. Revised, Corrected, And Enlarged. London: Reprinted...Under the Direction and Sanction of the Learned Author, By A. Maxwell, 1839. Two volumes. [i], xxxiii, 773; xl, 947 pp. Octavo (9-1/2" x...... More

First Edition of the First Record of the Constitutional Convention Yates, Robert [1738-1801]. Lansing, John [1754-1829] Martin, Luther [1748-1826]. Secret Proceedings and Debates of the Convention Assembled at Philadelphia, in the Year 1787, for the Purpose of Forming the Constitution of the United States of America. From the Notes Taken..... More

Attractive Set of the Last Edition of The Federalist Published in Hamilton's Lifetime [Hamilton, Alexander (1755 or 1757-1804)]. [Madison, James (1751-1836)]. [Jay, John Jay (1745-1829)]. The Federalist, On the New Constitution. By Publius. Written in 1788. To Which is Added, Pacificus, On the Proclamation of Neutrality. Written in 1793. Likewise..... More

A Radical Response to the Louisiana Purchase Massachusetts Farmer. [Lowell, John, Jr. (1769-1840)]. Thoughts in a Series of Letters, In Answer to a Question Respecting the Division of the States. [Boston?]: S.n., [1813]. 24 pp. Octavo (9-1/4" x 5-3/4"). Stab-stitched pamphlet in plain blue (sugar paper) wrappers, untrimmed edges. Light..... More

Cruelty Against a Woman, Or a Political Hatchet Job? Marie, Jane. The Case of Jane Marie, Exhibiting the Cruelty and Barbarous Conduct of James Ross, To a Defenceless Woman. Written and Published by the Object of His Cruelty and Vengeance, And Addressed to the Public of Philadelphia and the Whole..... More

"One of Those Legal Marathons Peculiar to the United States": McDade 576 [Trial]. Kring, Charles F., Defendant. [Kring, Eugene]. Love and Law, In Two Parts. Part I. The Only True History of the Killing of Mrs. Dora C.J. Broemser, by Chas. F. Kring: Together with the Autobiography of the Latter..... More

"We Ascribe This Horrible Deed More to Principle Than to Depravity" Merritt, Timothy. A Discourse on the Horrid Murder of Capt. James Purrinton's Family, Of Augusta, Delivered in Bowdoinham, July 20, 1806. Augusta, [ME]: Printed...by Peter Edes, 1806. 23 pp. Octavo (9" x 5-3/4"). Stab-stitched pamphlet in plain wrappers, recently..... More

Trial of the Leaders of the Ill-Fated Miranda Expedition [Trials]. Smith, William S. [1755-1816], Defendant. Ogden, Samuel G. [1779-1860], Defendant. Lloyd, Thomas [1756-1827], Stenographer. The Trials of William S. Smith and Samuel G. Ogden for Misdemeanours had in the Circuit Court of the United States for the New-York District in..... More

Grand Jury Documents from Nineteenth-Century Pennsylvania [Manuscript Archive]. [Pennsylvania]. [Six Manuscript Grand Jury Indictments]. [Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 1832-1839]. Six documents, ranging in size from 5-1/4" x 3-1/4" to 6-1/2" x 3-1/4" (folded, averaging 12" x 7-3/4" unfolded), each with text to recto and docket to verso. Moderate toning, light soiling..... More

The "Best English Treatise on the Subject" Collyer, John [1801-1870]. Phillips, Willard [1784-1873], Notes. Pickering, Edward [d.1876], Notes. A Practical Treatise on the Law of Partnership. With Notes of American Cases; By Willard Phillips and Edward Pickering. Springfield, MA: Published by G. and C. Merriam, 1834. xxxii, 728 [i.e. 544]..... More

A Pastor Defends His Congregant Clark, Benjamin Franklin [1809-1879]. The Perjury Case! Further Developments. Mr. Clark's Replies to the Letters of George F. Farley, And Ashael Huntington, Esq's. Boston: Printed for the Publisher, 1848. 16 pp. Octavo (9-1/2" x 5-3/4"). Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet, bottom edge untrimmed, last signature unopened. Moderate..... More

An Eminent Local as Guarantor and a "Negro Woman Named Tiggy" as Collateral [Slavery]. [Virginia]. [Bond Agreement to Settle a Debt]. Henry and Patrick Counties, [Virginia], December 7, 1804. 12-1/2" x 8" part-printed document inscribed in neat hand, signed by William Banks, Jr. and docketed on verso. Moderate toning, light..... More

One of the "Great Textbooks" Wharton, Francis [1820-1889]. A Treatise on the Criminal Law of the United States: Comprising a Digest of the Penal Statutes of the General Government, And of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia; With the Decisions on Cases Arising upon Those Statutes, And a General View..... More

First English Edition of the Standard American Evidence Treatise Before Wigmore Greenleaf, Simon [1783-1853]. A Treatise on the Law of Evidence. London: A. Maxwell/Boston: Charles C. Little & James Brown, 1842. xlviii, 658 pp. Octavo (9" x 6"). Contemporary sheep, blind fillets to boards, lettering piece and raised bands to..... More

Account of an Adultery Trial Published to Block an Academic Appointment [Trial]. Ure, Andrew [1778-1857], Plaintiff. [Chapman, Nathaniel, Editor]. The Whole of the Proceedings, Duly Authenticated, In the Case of Divorce of Andrew Ure, M.D. v. Catharine Ure, For Adultery with Granville Sharpe Pattison. Tried in the Consistory Court at..... More

Written During the Final Years of American Westward Expansion Spaulding, George W. A Treatise on the Public Land System of the United States. With References to the Land Laws, Rulings of the Departments at Washington, and Decisions of Courts, And an Appendix of Forms in United States Land and Mining..... More

Miscellaneous Writings of Joseph Story Story, Joseph [1779-1845]. Story, William W. [1819-1895], Editor. The Miscellaneous Writings of Joseph Story, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and Dane Professor of Law at Harvard University, Edited by his Son. Boston: Charles C. Little and J. Brown, 1852. 4..... More

Political Maneuvering at the Massachusetts Bible Society [Manuscript]. Greenleaf, Simon [1783-1853]. [Autograph Letter, Signed, To Charles Theodore Russell, Andover, MA, February 6, 1850]. 1 pp. letter to 10" x 8" bifolium on blue paper with integral address leaf and residue from wax seal, docketed "Simon Greenleaf Feby 6 1850" on..... More

Early South Carolina Appellate Reports [South Carolina]. Reports of Judicial Decisions in the Constitutional Court, Of the State of South-Carolina; Held at Charleston and Columbia, During the Years 1812, 13, 14, 15, And 16. To Which is Added, Two Cases Determined in the Court of Equity in the Year Eighteen..... More

A Conspiracy to Prevent Services in English in Two Lutheran Churches in Philadelphia [Trials]. Eberle, Frederick, Primary Defendant. Carson, James, Reporter. Trial of Frederick Eberle and Others, At a Nisi Prius Court, Held at Philadelphia, July 1816, Before the Honorable Jasper Yeates, Justice, For Illegally Conspiring Together by All Means..... More

The First Federal Bankruptcy Act [Bankruptcy]. [United States]. A Bill to Establish an Uniform System of Bankruptcy, Throughout the United States. Philadelphia: Printed by T.L. Plowman, 1801. 28 pp. Octavo (6-3/4" x 4-1/4"). Disbound stab-stitched pamphlet. Moderate toning, light soiling to exterior, a few minor spots to title page. Rare..... More

A Scarce Early Treatise on Insolvency in California Cowdery, Jabez F. [1834-1914]. The Law of Insolvency. Being the Voluntary Insolvency Law of California and Nevada, And the Involuntary Insolvency Law of California; With Full Annotations and References to the Decisions of the Supreme Court of California, And of Other Decisions..... More

Holmes Warmly Congratulates His Successor on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court [Manuscript]. Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr. [1841-1935]. [Knowlton, Marcus Perrin (1839-1918)]. [Autograph Letter, Signed, To Marcus P. Knowlton, Washington, DC, January 22, 1903]. Content to first 2 pp. of 7-3/4" x 5" U.S. Supreme Court bifolium letterhead. Moderate toning, single..... More

Antebellum Edition of Story on the Conflict of Laws Story, Joseph [1779-1845]. Bennett, Edmund Hastings [1824-1898], Editor. Commentaries on the Conflict of Laws, Foreign and Domestic, in Regard to Contracts, Rights, and Remedies, and Especially in Regard to Marriages, Divorces, Wills, Successions, and Judgments. Revised, Corrected and Greatly Enlarged. Boston..... More

Three Famous Murders of the Early 1890s [Murder]. Graves, Thomas Thatcher [1841-1893]. Sawtell, Isaac [d.1891]. Almy, Frank C. [1857-1892]. Three of a Kind: Dr. Graves, Isaac Sawtell, Frank C. Almy. Laconia, NH: John J. Lane, c.1893. 48 pp. Woodcut text illustrations. Octavo (9" x 5-3/4"). Stab-stitched pamphlet in pictorial wrappers..... More

Probably the Single Most Important Interpretation of American Law Kent, James [1763-1847]. [Kent, William (1802-1861), Editor]. [Eaton, Dorman Bridgeman (1823-1899), Editor]. Commentaries on American Law. New York: Published by William Kent, 1851. Four volumes. Star-paged to the second edition (1832). Octavo (9-1/2" x 6"). Contemporary sheep, blind rules to boards..... More

Highway Robbery, Tomkins County, New York, 1879 [Broadside]. [Criminals]. [New York (State)]. $100.00 Reward!! Dated Oct. 8, 1879. Tomkins County, NY, October 8, 1879. 9-1/2" x 9" broadside, text in single column below headline. Light browning, horizontal fold line through center, a few chips and clean short tears to left-hand..... More

"Extraordinary Cases" of a Notable Nineteenth-Century Lawyer Clinton, Henry Lauren [1820-1899]. Extraordinary Cases. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1896. ix, 403 pp. With a tissue-guarded portrait frontispiece of Clinton. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5-1/4). Contemporary three-quarter morocco over cloth boards, gilt rules to morocco edges, gilt-edge raised bands, gilt fillets and..... More

"A Classic of American Criminal History": McDade 276 [Trial]. Durrant, William Henry Theodore [1871-1898], Defendant. Peixotto, Edgar D., Reporter. Report of the Trial of William Henry Theodore Durrant: Indicted for the Murder of Blanche Lamont, Before the Superior Court of the City and County of San Francisco. Including a Full..... More

"A Complete and Satisfactory Work" Gresley, Richard Newcombe [1804-1837]. A Treatise on the Law of Evidence in the Courts of Equity. Philadelphia: P.H. Nicklin & T. Johnson, 1837. [iii], [ix]-xl, 564 (i.e. 464) pp. Octavo (9" x 5-1/2"). Contemporary sheep, blind fillets to boards, lettering piece and blind fillets to..... More