Lex Parliamentaria: Or

Lex Parliamentaria: Or, A Treatise of the Law and Custom of Parliaments, George Petyt and George Philips [Attributed] — 2nd Edition Publication: London, Printed for J. Stagg, [c. 1701] Formatting: 8vo, pp. [x], 434, [1]. Condition Report: Very Good. The volume is tightly bound in contemporary full calf, featuring five raised bands and six compartments to the spine, complete with a contrasting red morocco gilt-lettered label. The boards are finished with blind-tooled floral and foliate borders. The binding remains remarkably sound for its age, exhibiting only expected light shelf-wear, including minor rubbing to the joints, extremities, and board corners, alongside slight chipping at the head and tail of the spine. Internally, the text block is securely held, with the edges displaying uniform, light age-toning. The pages remain crisp and largely clean, presenting an excellent, unsophisticated example of an early eighteenth-century binding. Catalogue Note: This is the enlarged second edition of the work, featuring "Large Additions". First published in 1690, this edition was printed in London for J. Stagg around 1701. The volume comes complete with its half-title page and two one-page publisher advertisements. Authorship of the text is heavily debated, with historical attributions assigned to both George Petyt (and occasionally William Petyt) as well as George Philips. An early, contemporary ink ownership signature of "George Phelips" is present at the base of the title page, adding a layer of intriguing provenance linked to the book's attributed authorship. The work is unillustrated. It is scarce on the open market in such a complete, unsophisticated state. First published in 1690 and later read by American Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson, Lex Parliamentaria is considered one of the five major constitutional texts that advanced Whig ideology. This detailed treatise outlines the laws, customs, and privileges of the English Parliament, covering the election of members, the duties of the Speaker, the passing of bills, and the overarching rights of the House of Commons. It remains a foundational text for understanding the development of modern parliamentary democracy and early constitutional law.…