The First Part of the Institutes of the Laws of England

London: Printed by T. Wright for E. Brooke, 1788. The First Critical Edition of Coke on Littleton [C]Coke, Sir Edward [1552-1634]. Hargrave, Francis [1741?-1821], Editor. Butler, Charles [1750-1832], Editor. Hale, Sir Matthew [1609-1676]. [Finch, Heneage, Earl of Nottingham (1621-1682)]. The First Part of the Institutes of the Laws of England or, A Commentary upon Littleton. Not the Name of the Author Only, But of the Law Itself. With the Addition of Notes and References From the Beginning to Folio 195 Inclusive, by Francis Hargrave, And From Folio 196 to the End, With the Preface and Index to the Notes, by Charles Butler and an Analysis of Littleton. London: Printed by T. Wright, For E. Brooke (Successor to Messrs. Worrall and Tovey), 1788. [xxii], xx pp., 395 ff., [66] pp. Folding table of consanguinity. Folio (14-1/4" x 9-1/4"). Contemporary tree calf, blind panels to boards, lettering piece, gilt-edged raised bands and gilt ornaments to spine. Moderate rubbing to boards, which are beginning to separate but secure, minor worming to front board, moderate rubbing to extremities, a few vertical creases to spine, corners bumped and somewhat worn, title page re-hinged. Moderate toning to interior, light foxing in a few places, light edgewear to endleaves, minor worming to pastedowns, rear pastedown loose, early repair to rear hinge. $500. * Thirteenth edition, the first critical edition of this landmark work. The four books of Coke's Institutes are considered the first textbooks on modern common law. They are virtually a legal encyclopedia. The importance of this work is indicated by its inclusion in Printing and the Mind of Man, which notes: "[if] Bracton first began the codification of the common law, it was Coke who completed it. In the Institutes (.) the tradition of the common law from Bracton to Littleton, whose name Coke's commentary made famous, firmly established itself as the basis of the constitution of the Realm." Refined by later editors, Hargrave and Butler's edition became the standard version of this landmark work. Printing and the Mind of Man (citing first edition) 126. English Short-Title Catalogue T117845.…