Books, Manuscripts & Ephemera: 15th to 20th Centuries (with Many New Arrivals)
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Scarce Eighteenth-Century Treatise on Prize Law and Privateering Abreu y Bertodano, Felix Joseph de [c.1700-1775]. Traite Juridico-Politique sur les Prises Maritimes, et Sur les Moyens qui Doivent Concourir pour Rendre ces Prises Legitimes. Paris: Chez la Veuve Delaguette, 1758. Two volumes in one, each with title page and individual pagination... More
"A Little Too Human to be Strictly Scientific" Acton, John [d. 1350]. [Badius, Josse (1462-1535), Editor]. Constitutiones Legitime seu Legatine Regionis Anglicane: Cu[m] Subtilissima Interpretatione D[omi]ni Johannis de Athon: Tripliciq[ue] Tabella. Necnon et [Con]stitutiones Provinciales ab Archiepiscopis Cantuariensibus Edite: Et Sum[m]a Accuratione Recognite: Annotate et Parisiis Coimpresse. [Paris: Wulfgangi Hopilii..... More
First Boston Edition of Adams's Defence of the Constitutions Adams, John [1735-1826]. A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America. London, Printed; Boston: Re-Printed and Sold by Edmund Freeman, 1788. xxx, 317 pp. 12mo (6-1/2" x 4"). Recent period-style calf, blind rules and corner fleurons... More
Only American Edition of Adams's Landmark Study of America's Constitutions Adams, John [1735-1826]. A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Against the Attack of M. Turgot in His Letter to Dr. Price, Dated the Twenty-Second Day of March, 1778. Philadelphia: Printed by Budd and... More
How to Live the Life of a Proper Gentleman [Allestree, Richard (1621/2-1681)]. The Gentleman's Calling. Written by the Author of The Whole Duty of Man. London: Printed by Edward Jones, For Edward Pawlet, 1696. [xxvi], 165, [3] pp. Includes two-page publisher catalogue. Copperplate engraved allegorical frontispiece. Private Devotions, pp. [159]-165... More
"Both Alike Have Gain'd the Public Scorn" [Arnold, Benedict (1741-1801)]. [Eden, William, 1st Baron Auckland (1745-1814)]. The Loss of Eden, And Eden!, Lost. London: Printed & Publish'd... by W. Hinton, 21 December 1785. 8-1/4" x 12-1/2" hand-colored etching (image size) above eight lines of verse, attractively mounted and matted. Margins... More
Scarce Copy of Treatise On the Roman Law of Prescription Balbi, Giovanni Francesco [fl. 1510-1540]. [Henricus, de Segusio, Cardinal (Hostiensis) (c. 1200-1271)]. Tractatus de Prescriptionibus: Tractatus Secundus et Perutilis Profunde Subtilis[que] ac Quotidiane Materie o[mn]is Prescriptio[n]is ta[m] Civilis Q[uam] Canonice, Qui de Prescriptionib[us] Inscribit[ur]. [Lyons: Impressa Lugd. per Benedict[us] Bonyn..... More
"Supplies a Chasm in the Printed Year Books" Bellew(e), Richard, Compiler. Les Ans du Roy Richard le Second Collect' Ensemble' Hors de les Abridgments de Statham, Fitzherbert et Brooke. London: Imprinted by Robert Robertson, Dwelling in Fewter Lane Neere Holborne, 1585. [viii], 326 [i.e. 342], [6] pp. Collates complete. Octavo... More
Oil Portrait of the Famous Trial Attorney Melvin Belli [Belli, Melvin [1907-1996]. "Dexter." [Portrait of Melvin Belli]. [San Francisco?], 1987. Oil on Canvas, 30" x 40," signed "Dexter." Very good condition, glazing free of cracks. An interesting item. $950. * The work of an amateur artist, possibly a friend or... More
First American Edition of Bentham's Classic Essay on Usury Bentham, Jeremy [1748-1832]. Defence of Usury; Shewing the Impolicy of the Present Legal Restraints on the Terms of Pecuniary Bargains. To Which is Added, A Letter to Adam Smith, Esq. LL.D. On the Discouragement of Inventive Industry. Philadelphia: Printed for Matthew..... More
First Edition of Blackstone's Essay on Descents Blackstone, Sir William [1723-1780]. A Treatise on the Law of Descents in Fee-Simple. Oxford: at the Clarendon Press, 1759. 87, [1] pp. Two folding copperplate tables: "Table of Consanguinity" and "Table of Descents." Octavo (8-3/4" x 4-3/4"). Contemporary calf, carefully rebacked retaining spine... More
The First American Edition of Blackstone's Commentaries in a Superb Period-Style Binding [C] Blackstone, William [1723-1780]. Commentaries on the Laws of England. In Four Books. Re-Printed From the British Copy, Page for Page with the Last Edition. America [Philadelphia]: Robert Bell, 1771-1772. Four volumes. [viii], ii, [vi], 485; [viii], 520... More
An Important Edition of Bolivia's Penal Code [Bolivia]. Siles (Reyes), Hernando [1882-1942], Editor. Codigo Penal, Concordado por Hernando Siles. Santiago de Chile: Imprenta, Litografia y Encuadernacion Barcelona, 1910. 665, xxii pp. Contemporary three-quarter sheep over marbled boards, raised bands and lettering pieces to spine. Moderate rubbing to boards and extremities... More
With a Section on Canon-Law Jurisprudence Bonacina, Martino [1585-1631]. Tractatus Tres de Legibus, De Peccatis, Et de Praeceptis Decalogi: In Quorum Primo Agitur de Legibus in Genere, & in Specie, & de iis Que Pertinent ad Legem Praeceptivam, & Poenalem, & ed eius Cessationem Agitur Etiam de Dispensationibus, & de... More
A Rare Legal Handbook for French Priests Borjon De Scellery, Pierre [1633-1691]. Decisons Des Matieres Qui Regardent Les Curez. Avec les Arrests du Conseil, Des Parlements, & Autres Cours Superieurs, Donnez en Consequence, Utiles & Necessaires Ausdits Curez. Rouen: Chez Pierre de la Motte, 1694. [ii], 3-82, [10] pp. Final... More
A Notable French Commentary on the XII Tables Bouchaud, Mathieu-Antoine [1719-1804]. Commentaire sur la Loi des Douze Tables. Paris: De l'Imprimerie de Moutard, 1787. xxiii, [i], 863, [1] pp. Quarto (9-3/4" x 7-1/2"). Contemporary calf with cats-paw decoration, gilt spine with raised bands and lettering pieces, gilt fillets to board... More
PMM 89: The "Crown and Flower of Medieval Jurisprudence" Bracton, Henry de, [d. 1268]. De Legibus et Consuetudinibus Angliae, Libri Quinq; In Varios Tractatus Distincti, ad Diversorum et Vetustissimorum Codicum Collationem, Ingenti Cura, Nunc Primu Typis Vulgati; Quorum Quid Cuiq; Insit, Proxima Pagina Demonstrabit. London: Apud Richardum Tottellum, 1569. [xvi]... More
The "Negro of 'Inflooence'" [Broadside]. [African-Americans]. [North Carolina]. Hull, F[red] A., Engraver. A Sample of Democratic White Supremacy in North Carolina. Judge Winston's Dream of Riding the District with George H. White, the Negro of "Inflooence." Are the People of North Carolina Going To Elect Judge Francis D. Winston Lieutenant-Governor..... More
An Event That Advanced a Successful Movement to Reduce the Number of Capital Crimes in Massachusetts [Broadside]. [Execution]. [Salem, Massachusetts]. Execution of Stephen Merrill Clark, Which Took Place on Winter Island, Salem, On Thursday, May 10, 1821. Salem (?), MA: S.n., 1821. 17-1/2" x 11-1/4" broadside. Text in four columns... More
"Cut Out for a Sawyer but Made Up a Lawyer" [Broadside]. [Great Britain]. Beware! Important Caution. Beware of a Pair of Bipeds, That Have Lately Escaped, The One from Jail, The Other "Cut out for a Sawyer but Made Up a Lawyer," From the Weddington Lane-Menagerie, And are Now Haunting... More
One of the Most Appalling Examples of the Sadistic Abuse of a Minor [Broadside]. [Great Britain]. [Child Abuse]. A Copy of Verses, on the Trial & Conviction of Mr. & Mrs. Sloane, for the Cruel Treatment of their (Servant Girl,) Jane Wilbred. [London?: Printed for P.C., 1851]. 9" x 7"... More
A Pair of Conjugate Broadsides [Broadside]. [Death]. [Murder]. [New York]. A Poem of the Distressing and Afflictive Death of the Rev. Josiah M. Muspratt, Who Was Killed in an Awful Manner; Being Caught in the Machinery of Whitesborough Factory, Carried up to the Floor Above by His Arm, Where it... More
A Measure to Reduce Incidents of Arson in Lynn, Massachusetts [Broadside]. [Massachusetts]. Davis, Edward S., Mayor. City of Lynn! Mayor's Office, Oct. 4, 1859. By an Order of the City Council I Am Authorized and Instructed to Offer an Award of Five Hundred Dollars!.... Lynn, MA: Bay State Press, Central... More
Laws Relating to the Stuart-Era Nobility Brydall, John [b.1635?]. Jus Imaginis Apud Anglos; Or the Law of England Relating to the Nobility & Gentry. Faithfully Collected and Methodically Digested for Common Benefit. London: Printed for John Billinger, 1675. [xvi], 76, [1] pp. Blank interleaves throughout without annotations. Copperplate frontispiece (Arms... More
1703 Treatise on the Law Relating to Bastardy Brydall, John [b. 1635?]. Lex Spuriorum: Or, The Law Relating to Bastardy. Collected from the Common, Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws. London: Printed by the assigns of Richard and Edward Atkins, Esquires; For Thomas Osborne, 1703. [viii], 127, [9] pp. Octavo (6-3/4" x.... More