Commentaries on the Laws of England BOOK THE FIRST. BY William Blackstone The Commentaries on the Laws of England are an influential 18th-century treatise on the common law of England by Sir William Blackstone, originally published by the Clarendon Press at Oxford, 1765-1769. The work is divided into four volumes, on the rights of persons, the rights of things, of private wrongs and of public wrongs. The Commentaries were long regarded as the leading work on the development of English law and played a role in the ...
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Commentaries on the Laws of England BOOK THE FIRST. BY William Blackstone The Commentaries on the Laws of England are an influential 18th-century treatise on the common law of England by Sir William Blackstone, originally published by the Clarendon Press at Oxford, 1765-1769. The work is divided into four volumes, on the rights of persons, the rights of things, of private wrongs and of public wrongs. The Commentaries were long regarded as the leading work on the development of English law and played a role in the development of the American legal system. They were in fact the first methodical treatise on the common law suitable for a lay readership since at least the Middle Ages. The common law of England has relied on precedent more than statute and codifications and has been far less amenable than the civil law, developed from the Roman law, to the needs of a treatise. The Commentaries were influential largely because they were in fact readable, and because they met a need. The work is as much an apologia for the legal system of the time as it is an explanation; even when the law was obscure, Blackstone sought to make it seem rational, just, and inevitable that things should be how they were. The Commentaries are often quoted as the definitive pre-Revolutionary source of common law by United States courts. Opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States quote from Blackstone's work whenever they wish to engage in historical discussion that goes back that far, or farther (for example, when discussing the intent of the Framers of the Constitution). The book was famously used as the key in Benedict Arnold's book cipher, which he used to communicate secretly with his conspirator John Andr??? during their plot to betray the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
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Seller's Description:
Fine. 4 volumes. Small thick 4tos, handsomely bound in publisher's full tan leather, gilt spines, all edges gilt. (Birmingham): Privately Printed by the Legal Classics Library, (1983). Publisher's printed bookplates affixed, else a fine set. Facsimile of the Oxford, 1765 edition. Blackstone "treats first of the rights commanded or recognised by the law, and secondly of the wrongs which it prohibits; rights again he divides...into rights of persons and rights of things (or property), and wrongs into private wrongs, or civil injuries, and public wrongs, or `crimes and misdemeanors. ' To each of these four divisions is allotted a volume....As an institutional treatise...it stands alone." DNB II, p. 597-8.
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Seller's Description:
Volume 1. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 750grams, ISBN: 0226055361.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
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Seller's Description:
Good. 4 Volume set of PAPERBACKS. Again, not Hardcover, these are Paperback. All 4 volumes show some light browning from age as well as some light scuffing, rubbing and wrinkling on spines.
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Seller's Description:
Fine. First University of Chicago Press Edition. xiii, 473, xv, 520, xix (Appendix), xii, 455, xxvii (Appendix), xvi, 436, vii (appendix), viii (Supplement). 8vo. First Printing. Uniformly bound volumes that are clean and crisp. Housed in Fine slipcase. No dust jackets, as issued.
Should be mandatory reading for all uni students, & a reference manual for law.
DaveH
Feb 25, 2009
A great read
After hearing so much about this work in law school, I bought a copy a few years ago - from Alibris. I started to read this work and found that much of it is still relavant today. I have even used this work in drafting judicial opinions for my employer- a Judge in New York City.
I would recommend this to any attorney or person who wishess to become a real scholar of the law.
I really like the two volume edition I bought here.
