Franked Docketed Address Leaf, Signed, In Blackstone's Hand, c1766.
"Free / W. Blackstone": A Bold and Exceptionally Clear Signature of the Great Commentator on the Laws of England [Manuscript]. Blackstone, Sir William [1723-1780]. [Walker, Thomas (1724-1804)]. [Franked Docketed Address Leaf Addressed to Walker, Signed ("Free / W. Blackstone"), In His Hand, Oxford, October 14, (1766?)]. 9" x 7" (23 x 18 cm) leaf from a bifolium letter, Moderate toning, moderate soiling, vertical and horizontal fold lines, chips along fold lines, minor loss from seal tears, verso silked, "1766" in faint pencil to lower-right corner. [With] [Gainsborough, Thomas (1727-1788), After]. [Hall, J., Engraver]. [Portrait of Blackstone]. [Oxford, 1775]. Copperplate engraving, 7-1/4" x 4-3/4" (18.4 x 12.1 cm), mounted on larger 11-1/4" x 8-1/2" 28.6 x 21.6 cm) sheet. Light toning and a few faint fox-spots to image, moderate toning to sheet, a few minor tears to its edges. Together two items. $2,500. * Addressed to Walker, "Begbrook [sic] near Woodstock Oxon," and signed, in a bold, flourished hand, "Free/ W. Blackstone." This signature was written around the time of the publication of the first two volumes of the Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765, 1766). Remembered for his contributions to Woodstock's architectural development, Walker, a prominent civic leader, Oxfordshire attorney and town clerk of Oxford, was a professional associate and friend. (Begbroke, his home, is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about five miles northwest of Oxford.) The accompanying portrait is a frontispiece from a copy of the seventh edition of the Commentaries. Prest, William Blackstone 138, 278. Laeuchli, A Bibliographical Catalog of William Blackstone 15 (frontispiece).
Price: $2,500.00
Book number 74044