De Jure Maritimo et Navali, Or, A Treatise of Affairs Maritime....
First Edition of an Important Early English Treatise on Maritime and Naval Law Molloy, Charles [1646-1690]. De Jure Maritimo et Navali: Or, A Treatise of Affaires Maritime, And of Commerce. London: Printed for John Bellinger in Clifford's Inne Lane Against the West Doore of St. Dunstan's Church; And George Dawes in Chancery Lane Against Lincolns-Inne, 1676. [xxii], 452 [i.e. 380], [24] pp. Copperplate allegorical frontispiece. Octavo (8" x 5-1/4"). Contemporary mottled calf, rebacked in period style, blind rules to boards, lettering piece, gilt-edged raised bands and gilt publication date to spine, corners and hinges mended. Light rubbing, gatoring and a few nicks and scuffs to boards, moderate rubbing to board edges. Moderate toning to interior, light soiling, early owner signature (John Durrant) and later gift inscription ("gift of William Bruce to John Scales" dated 1761) to title page. $1,250. * First edition, one of three issues, all in 1676. The first treatise on international, commercial and maritime by an English common lawyer, De Jure Maritimo et Navali addresses international, naval, maritime and commercial law. Among its topics are rights of maritime nations, privateers, piracy, rights and laws of maritime nations with letters of marque, privateers, piracy, ships-of-war, crews, cargo and shipwrecks. A standard work for decades, it went through several editions, the last in 1778. A Spanish translation was published in 1793. Holdsworth and Coquillette note the importance of this work and its value to the legal historian. All of the 1676 imprints are scarce. Holdsworth, Sources and Literature of English Law 210. Coquillette, Comparative Studies in Continental and Anglo-American Legal History 140-146. English Short-Title Catalogue R232280. R43462.
Price: $1,250.00
Book number 74545