Principia Legis et Aequitatis, Being an Alphabetical Collection.

Richmond, VA: Printed by T.W. White, 1824. Only American Edition of Branch's Collection of Legal Maxims Branch, Thomas [fl. 1738-1753]. Hening, William Waller [1768-1828], Editor. Principia Legis et Aequitatis: Being an Alphabetical Collection of Maxims, Principles or Rules, Definitions, and Memorable Sayings in Law and Equity. First American, From the Fourth London Edition. With Additions and Corrections. Richmond, VA: Printed by T.W. White, 1824. [viii], [9]-168 pp. Octavo (8-1/4" x 4-3/4"). Recent period-style quarter calf over cloth, lettering piece and blind fillets to spine, endpapers renewed. Moderate toning to text, somewhat heavier in places, light foxing to a few leaves, library stamps to title page. $500. * Only American edition. This popular book was first published in 1753. It went through six English editions, the final appearing in 1824. Based on the fourth London edition (1822), the American edition is enhanced by Hening's additions. According to Marvin, "'As a manual, this little book contains more law and more useful matter, than any one book of the same size which can be put into the hands of the student.' It is more extensive than Noy's Maxims, and 'draws so copiously from the common law reports and writers of the age of Elizabeth, and since that time, that it may be regarded as the accumulated spirit and wisdom of the great body of the English law.'" Marvin's first quote is from Preston on Abstracts, the second from Kent's Commentaries on American Law. Marvin, Legal Bibliography 143. Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law 5376. …