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A Scarce English-Language Edition of "The Best Elementary Book" Written Before Blackstone's Commentaries Finch, Sir Henry [1558-1625]. A Description of the Common Laws of England, According to the Rules of Art, Compared with the Prerogatives of the King. With the Substance and Effect of the Statutes (Disposed in their Proper Places) by Which the Common Law is Abridged, Enlarged, Or Any Ways Altered, From the Commencement of Magna Charta, Anno 9 H.3. Until this Day. Originally Written in French, And Now First Translated into English, With Variety of References to both the Ancient and Modern Reports, And Occasional Remarks where the Law has Been Altered by later Resolutions, Or Acts of Parliament, With Many Useful Observations also on Various Points of Law. London: Printed for A. Millar, In the Strand, 1759. [iv], viii, [4], 463, [1] pp. Octavo (8-1/4" x 5"). Contemporary calf, blind rules to boards, blind tooling along joints, raised bands and faint hand-lettered title in early hand to spine, blind tooling to board edges. Light rubbing and a few shallow scuffs to boards, chipping to spine ends, front board beginning to separate but secure, corners bumped and somewhat worn, rear hinge starting. Light toning to interior, offsetting to margins of endleaves. $1,500. * Only edition of this translation, the best version of this work. Originally published in Law-French in 1613 as Nomotechnia: Un Description del Common Leyes D'Angleterre, "Finch's Law, till the publication of Blackstone's Commentaries, was regarded as the best elementary book to be placed in the hands of the law students. It is one of the few attempts that have been made to reduce the common law into system. [Finch's] definitions were exact, his style concise and nervous, and his illustrations clear and authentic. Most of the valuable parts of Finch are incorporated in Blackstone's Commentaries" (Sweet & Maxwell). The statement "Now First Translated into English" in the title of our edition is misleading. The first translation, by the author, was published in 1627 with the title Law, Or, A Discourse Thereof. It went through several editions, the last one, issued by Henry Lintot, in 1759. Our edition was the work of an anonymous translator. It is superior because it is a fresh translation that includes material omitted in the a.
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