Essay Upon the Law of Contracts and Agreements. 2 Vols.
First American Edition of The First Treatise on Contracts Powell, John Joseph. Essay Upon the Law of Contracts and Agreements. Originally published: Walpole: Printed, At the Press of Thomas & Thomas, by David Newhall, 1802. 2 volumes. Star-numbered (646 pp.) Reprinted 2005 by the Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. ISBN-13: 9781584775201; ISBN-10: 1584775203. Smyth sewn russet cloth bound hardcovers with contrasting gilt stamped spine labels. New. $150. * Reprint of the first American edition of the first treatise devoted exclusively to contract law. Originally published in London in 1790, Powell's work marked a decisive shift away from abridgments and digests toward a systematic exposition of legal principles. This Walpole edition retains the original star-paging, enabling precise citation to the English edition and facilitating transatlantic use by the early American bar. As Holdsworth notes, it is "an able book," notable for its clear statement of principle illustrated through carefully selected cases. A foundational work in Anglo-American contract law and a cornerstone for collections of early American legal printing and the development of the common law in the early Republic.
Price: $150.00
Book number 40732