Commentaries on the Laws of England

Portland: Thomas B Wait, 1807. Leather. Good. 7" by 4.5". None. An early American edition of William Blackstone's influential work on the common law of eighteenth century Britain. With a frontispiece to volume I. Two folding plates to volume II. This is the fifth American edition of this work. 'Commentaries on the Laws of England' is an incredibly influential work on the common low of the eighteenth century, an important treatise.Volume I focuses on the rights of persons, Volume II on the rights of things, Volume III on private wrongs, and Volume IV on public wrongs.This work played a role in the development of the American legal system.Written by William Blackstone, an English jurist and judge, who is best known for this work, his magnum opus. In uniform full calf bindings. Externally, sound, with rubbing to the spines and boards. Small loss to the head and tail of spine to volumes I, II and IV. Loss to the spine label of volume I. Volume III rebound in a sympathetic style with the original spine label preserved and is externally in an excellent condition. Front endpaper to volume II is disbound but present. Prior owner's inscription to the recto of front endpaper to volume II. Internally, all volumes are firmly bound. Pages are generally bright. Damp staining to the first and last few pages of volume IV. Bottom of first folding plate to volume II has been trimmed off, and is loosely inserted. Occasional light spots to pages. Good