Every Man His Own Lawyer, or, A Summary of the Laws of England... 1768
The Dawn of the "Self-Help" Legal Genre in the New World [Jacob, Giles (1686-1744)]. Every Man His Own Lawyer: Or, A Summary of the Laws of England, In a New and Instructive Method, Under the Following Heads, Viz. I. Of Actions and Remedies, Writs, Process, Arrests, and Bail. II. Of Courts, Attornies and Solicitors Therein, Juries, Witnesses, Trials, Executions, &c. III. Of Estates and Property in Lands and Goods, And How Acquired, Ancestors, Heirs, Executors and Administrators. IV. Of the Laws Relating to Marriage, Bastardy, Infants, Ideots, Lunaticks. V. Of the Liberty of the Subject, Magna Charta, the Habeas Corpus Act, and other Statutes. VI. Of the King and his Prerogative, the Queen and Prince, Peers, Judges, Sheriffs, Coroners, Justices of Peace, Constables, &c. VII. Of Publick Offences, Treason, Murder, Felony, Burglary, Robbery, Rape, Sodomy, Forgery, Perjury, &c. and Their Punishment. All of Them so Plainly Treated of That All Manner of Persons May be Particularly Acquainted With Our Laws and Statutes, Concerning Civil and Criminal Affairs, And Know How to Defend Themselves and Their Estates and Fortunes, An All Cases Whatsoever. Corrected and Improved, With Many Additions, from Lord Raymond, Comyn, Strange, Foster, And with the Statute Law Down to 4 Geo. 3. Inclusive. New-York: Printed by Hugh Gaine, 1768. iv, 289, [13] pp. Octavo (7-1/4" x 4-1/2"). Contemporary sheep, blind fillets and decorative blind tooling to boards. Moderate rubbing to extremities, some chipping to spine ends, corners bumped and lightly worn, a few minor scuffs to boards, hinges cracked, light browning to text. Early owner signature to rear pastedown, interior otherwise clean. $2,000. * First American edition, designated the seventh on the title page in reference to the prior six editions published in London. Before the Revolution, access to legal knowledge was often guarded by the elite. Giles Jacob, one of the 18th century's most prolific legal minds, sought to change that. While his peers wrote for the bench and bar, Jacob wrote for "All Manner of Persons." He was a legal idealist who believed that a society is only as just as its citizens are informed-a philosophy clearly reflected in this landmark publication. While the work saw ten successful editions in London between 1736 and 1788, this 1768 New York printing marks a pivotal.
Price: $2,000.00
Book number 59841