Compiled Laws of the State of California, Containing all the Acts.

Benecia, [Cal], 1853. The First Compilation of California Law [California]. Garfielde, S., Compiler. Snyder, F.A., Compiler. Compiled Laws of the State of California: Containing all the Acts of the Legislature of a Public and General Nature, Now in Force, Passed at the Sessions of 1850-51-52-53. To Which are Prefixed the Declaration of Independence, The Constitutions of the United States and of California, The Treaty of Queretaro, And the Naturalization Laws of the United States. By Authority. Benicia: Published by S. Garfielde, Press of the Franklin Printing House, 210 Washington Street, Boston, Mass., 1853. Octavo (9" x 5-3/4"). xix, [1], 1071 pp. Contemporary tan law sheep, blind fillets to boards, raised bands, red and black lettering pieces and later library shelf number to spine. Light rubbing and some minor scuffs and scratches, moderate rubbing to extremities, front joint and front and rear hinges starting at ends, later owner bookplate of Joseph M. Gleason to front pastedown. Light toning to interior, browning and light foxing to a few sections of text, corner folds to a few leaves, library markings to verso of title page, early owner inscription of Michael Calvert Dougherty dated July 4, 1854 to half-title. $750. * First edition. The first compilation of California law, this book records the state's first four years of legislation, based on the acts as enrolled (as opposed to issued in print), with notes of California Supreme Court opinions provided as applicable. It includes a detailed 100-page index. Michael Calvert Dougherty (1819-1883) was an early settler in Sonoma. Two letters in the LA County Library Digital Collections, both from 1854, identify Dougherty as California's Special Agent for the Indians on Russian River. The front pastedown bears the bookplate of the distinguished historian and bibliophile Joseph M. Gleason (1869-1942). Gleason was a prominent Catholic priest, historian, and educator in California who amassed a significant library of over 100,000 volumes. His personal bookplate is notable for its pictorial design-depicting an elderly priest at a desk with a globe-and the motto "Tamdiu discendum est quamdiu vivas" (We should learn as long as we may live). Babbitt, Hand-List of Legislative Sessions and Session Laws 24. …