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4th & final edition, Folio, 1730. The Sandys Family Library, Ombersley Court (Dispersed 2024): A Classic of Anglo-American Civil Law Wood, Thomas [1661-1722]. A New Institute of the Imperial or Civil Law. With Notes Shewing in Some Principal Cases Amongst Other Observations, How the Canon Law, The Laws of England, And the Laws and Customs of Other Nations Differ From It. In Four Books. Composed For the Use of Some Persons of Quality. Corrected. To Which is Prefix'd, As an Introduction, A Treatise of the First Principles of Laws in General; Of Their Nature and Design, And of the Interpretation of Them. London: Printed for J. and J. Knapton, D. Midwinter [et al.], 1730. [viii], 342, [6] pp. Folio (13" x 8-1/2"). Contemporary calf, blind rules to boards, blind fillets along joints, raised bands and lettering piece to spine, blind tooling to board edges. Light rubbing and scuffing to boards, which are beginning to separate but quite secure, somewhat heavier rubbing to extremities, title rubbed away from lettering piece, corners bumped and moderately worn, early library shelf marks to front free endpaper (in pencil) and rear pastedown (in ink). Notably light toning to interior, slightly heavy toning and light foxing in places, light soiling to a few leaves, offsetting to margins of endleaves. $950. * Fourth and final edition. First published in 1704, with subsequent editions in 1712 and 1721 and 1730. Wood's New Institute became the standard Anglo-American introduction to Roman (civil) law, widely consulted by common lawyers seeking to incorporate "civilian" principles into practice. Designed expressly for elite instruction, it offers a systematic digest of Justinianic doctrine while consistently comparing it with English law, canon law, and continental practice-an early and influential exercise in comparative jurisprudence. Wood underscores the deep indebtedness of English legal writers to Roman models, remarking that Henry de Bracton and Fleta "would look very naked if every Roman lawyer should pluck away his feathers." It is also a pioneering essay in comparative law. From the library of the Sandys family of Ombersley Court (Worcestershire), dispersed at auction in 2024, a fitting survival of a work "composed for the use of some persons of quality." English Short-Title Catalogue T102257.
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