Title: Commentaries on the Laws of England Author: Blackstone, William Place: Oxford Publisher: Clarendon Press Date: 1766-1769 Description: 4 volumes. [4], iv, [4], 485; [vi], 520, xix; [viii], 455, [1] blank, xxvii; [viii], 436, vii, [1] blank, [39] pp. Folding 'Table of Consanguinity' and 'Table of Descents' in vol. II. (4to) 10½x8½, period full calf. Second Edition of Volume 1; First Edition of Volumes 2-4. "Blackstone's great work on the laws of England is the extreme example of justification of an existing state of affairs by virtue of its history. Until the Commentaries, the ordinary Englishman had viewed the law as a vast, unintelligible and unfriendly machine. Blackstone's great achievement was to popularize the law and the traditions which had influenced its formation. He takes a delight in describing and defending as the essence of the constitution the often anomalous complexities which had grown into the laws of England over the centuries. But he achieves the astonishing feat of communicating this delight, and this is due to a style which is itself always lucid and graceful." (PMM 212) Lot Amendments Condition: Bindings well worn and with most covers detached; internally very good with light to moderate foxing. Item number: 184667
Title: Commentaries on the Laws of England Author: Blackstone, William Place: Oxford Publisher: Clarendon Press Date: 1766-1769 Description: 4 volumes. [4], iv, [4], 485; [vi], 520, xix; [viii], 455, [1] blank, xxvii; [viii], 436, vii, [1] blank, [39] pp. Folding 'Table of Consanguinity' and 'Table of Descents' in vol. II. (4to) 10½x8½, period full calf. Second Edition of Volume 1; First Edition of Volumes 2-4. "Blackstone's great work on the laws of England is the extreme example of justification of an existing state of affairs by virtue of its history. Until the Commentaries, the ordinary Englishman had viewed the law as a vast, unintelligible and unfriendly machine. Blackstone's great achievement was to popularize the law and the traditions which had influenced its formation. He takes a delight in describing and defending as the essence of the constitution the often anomalous complexities which had grown into the laws of England over the centuries. But he achieves the astonishing feat of communicating this delight, and this is due to a style which is itself always lucid and graceful." (PMM 212) Lot Amendments Condition: Bindings well worn and with most covers detached; internally very good with light to moderate foxing. Item number: 184667
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
