Nelson William Compiler (1 results)

First Edition. The First Book Devoted Exclusively to the English Law of Evidence [Nelson, William (b.1653), Compiler]. The Law of Evidence: Wherein All the Cases that Have Yet been Printed in Any of Our Law Books or Tryals, And that in Any Wise Relate to Points of Evidence, Are Collected and Methodically Digested Under Their Proper Heads: With Necessary Tables to the Whole. [London]: Printed by Eliz. Nutt and R. Gosling, 1717. [xvi], 243, [77] pp. Octavo (7-3/4" x 4-1/2"). Contemporary calf, blind rules to boards, blind fillets along joints, raised bands to spine, lettering piece lacking, gilt fillets to board edges. Light rubbing and some minor scuffs and stains to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, chipping to head of spine, corners bumped and somewhat worn, pastedowns loose, small holes to front pastedown and rear endleaf. Light toning to text, somewhat heavier in places, light foxing to margins in a few places, light soiling to title page, early owner signatures (of Edmund Guy and John Ridout, the latter dated 1760) to front endleaf. $1,500. * First edition. The first book devoted exclusively to the law of evidence, it was published at a time when evidence was beginning to be treated as a distinct subject. Its twelve chapters include three on witnesses, one on written evidence and one chapter on criminal evidence. Other editions were published in 1735, 1739 and 1744. All editions are scarce. English Short-Title Catalogue T129613.