An Historical Account of the Rights of Elections of the Several.

The First Significant Study of Parliamentary Elections [Carew, Thomas (1702-1766)]. An Historical Account of the Rights of Elections of the Several Counties, Cities, And Boroughs of Great Britain: Collected from Public Records, And Journals of Parliament, To the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Four. London: Printed for John Nourse, 1755. [iv], x, 408, 286 pp. Two parts in one volume. Main text printed in double columns. Folio (10" x 16"). Nineteenth-century three-quarter calf over marbled boards, gilt fillets and lettering piece to spine. Light rubbing and a few light dampstains to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, corners bumped and somewhat worn, hinges starting. Moderate toning to text, light foxing and minor worming in a few places with no loss to text. A nice copy. $500. * Only edition. Holdsworth, who holds this work in high regard, says this the first significant work on the subject of parliamentary elections. Gross notes that "for the period covered [in this book, circa 1600-1754], this is the most exhaustive parliamentary history of the boroughs. Over 190 towns are discussed in detail. Carew was a member of Parliament from 1702 to 1766. He dedicated this extensive and scholarly study to Arthur Onslow, the Speaker of the House of Commons during most of the reign of George II. OCLC locates 21 copies. Holdsworth, A History of English Law XII:346. Gross, A Bibliography of British Municipal History 62. Sweet & Maxwell, A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth 1:149 (4).…