The Virginia Scrivener, Being a Collection of Forms of Bonds,...
"A Cheap Instructor" for Virginians, Includes a Sample Inventory that Includes Slaves [Michie, Thomas Johnson (1795-1873), Attributed]. The Virginia Scrivener, Being a Collection of Forms of Bonds, Contracts, Conveyancing, and Other Instruments of Writing, Carefully Selected from the Most Approved Authors, and Accompanied by Plain and Well Established Explanatory Rules of Law: Together with the Mode of Authenticating Deeds for Record in All the States of the Union: Adapted to the Use of the people of Virginia. Prepared By a Gentleman of the Bar of Staunton. To Which are Prefixed the Constitution of the U. States, and the Bill of Rights, and New Constitution of the State of Virginia. Staunton, [Va.]: Kenton Harper, Publisher, 1833. iv [5]-181 pp. Octavo (8" x 5"). Contemporary sheep, lettering piece and gilt fillets to spine. Light rubbing and a few minor scuffs to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, boards slightly bowed, corners bumped and somewhat worn, tiny chip to lettering piece, upper corner lacking from rear free endpaper. Moderate toning and light foxing to text. Contemporary (and near-contemporary) annotations and early owner inscriptions (of Hezekiah Taylor) to endleaves, marks to a few passages in text. $250. * Only edition. "The purpose of this production, is to place in the hands of every man a cheap instructor, by the aid of which, without too much abstraction from his ordinary business, he can acquire or transfer property and preserve his rights, without the danger of involving himself in litigation, or of having his transactions pronounced invalid by the laws of the land" [iii]. Among the sample forms is an estate inventory on p.175 that includes a list of slaves. Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law 8153.
Price: $250.00
Book number 69499