14. Blackstone, William.
Commentaries on the Laws of England.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, Printed for William Strahan., 1773

First Edition. Four volume set plus a fifth volume of the biographical history of Blackstone. Per the bibliographer Eller (p.4), Oxford edition to be published in octavo & also the first to contain the "Table of Precedence". Bound in old mottled calf (covers), spines elegantly restored with gilt calf & gilt red & black labels done in fine antique style, leather corners repaired, antique style marbled endpapers, gilt dates at bases of spines read 1783 rather than 1773.

Douglas, D. The Biographical History of Sir William Blackstone. By a gentleman of Lincoln's Inn., London, Printed for the author, 1782. Same binding as the Blackstone set (dated 1782) but lacks portrait, some ink lines, asterisks, etc., in margins. (Eller, p. 104-05) All five volumes are exceptionally well preserved. This set is the first octavo edition of this major legal classic, that had world wide legal & political influence. The text is sound; pages are clean with only a few occasional age spots in the margins. The bindings are in especially fine condition, beautifully executed & gilt.

2000/4000     SOLD: $2,070.79

Condition: Very Good