Hargrave, Francis, A COLLECTION OF TRACTS RELATIVE TO THE LAW OF ENGLAND, FROM MANUSCRIPTS, NOW FIRST EDITED BY FRANCIS HARGRAVE, ESQUIRE, BARRISTER AT LAW. London: Printed by T. Wright, and sold by E. Brooke, Bell-Yard, Temple Bar, 1787. 1st ed. full leather hardcover, 4to (10.5x8.5?), Fair/n.a., [iv] (contents), Lii (preface), 578pp. Kept in its dashingly handsome custom clam-shell case, this tome suffers from severe rubbing and chipping to the perimeter edges of the binding, as well as a detached rear board, and a nearly detached front board, gives evidence of having been re-backed in the distant past, some light chipping and soiling to text-block, 1st and last signatures are shaken. The book is collated, and apparently lacking the errata sheet, as most are, in that it was laid in, and disappeared easily. A fascinating gathering of insights from the greatest legal minds of the day, the contents are intriguing indeed, with tracts by the Hon. Mr. Justice Blackstone, Sir Matthew Hale and many others. The historical context surrounding these legal debates makes this collection invaluable. Here we have a window into the legal landscape of the time, where questions of power and authority intersected with practical matters of governance and commerce. The scarcity of this edition adds to its allure. If you?re passionate about legal history, this volume is a treasure trove waiting to be explored and cherished for all your days. Mr. Hargrave was also quite the collector of legal books and manuscripts. Upon his death his collection of 499 manuscripts were purchased, along with his library of books, by vote of the House of Commons, passed July 1st, 1813. It consists almost exclusively of Law. Among them were the very tracts in this book. A very distinctive book, and yet another marvelous Capture of Tyme!