An Essay to the Restoring of Our Decayed Trade: Wherein is Described

Smuglers, Lawyers and Officers Frauds. London 1675. Protecting "Our Decayed Trade" From Smugglers and Lawyers Trevers, Joseph. An Essay to the Restoring of Our Decayed Trade. Wherein is Described, The Smuglers, Lawyers, And Officers Frauds, &c. London: Printed for Giles Widdowes, John Sims, and Will. Milward, 1675. [x], 24, 33-59, [5] pp. Complete; text and register continuous despite pagination. Quarto (7" x 5-3/4"; 17.8 x 14.6 cm). Stab-stitched pamphlet bound into nineteenth-century signed binding by Morley of Oxford, quarter-morocco over marbled boards, gilt title to spine. Some rubbing to extremities, front hinge starting. Negligible light browning, to text, light foxing to a few leaves, recent repair to corner of leaf a1 (pp. [vii]-[viii]), light soiling and staining to title page. A handsome copy. $1,950. * First edition. With two laudatory poems addressed to the author. Trevers was a customs officer who was formerly a clothier. His essay proposes legislation to combat trade policies, taxes and abuses by government officials and middlemen that affect the manufacture and trade of wool and woolen cloth. Most of his ideas are stridently protectionist; several reflect a keen hostility toward lawyers. Later editions were published in 1677 and 1678. All editions are scarce. OCLC locates 7 copies of the first edition in North America, none in law libraries. Kress Library of Business and Economics Catalogue 1390. English Short-Title Catalogue R222765.…