first edition
1647
by Selden, John, Editor
1647. London 1647, 1st ed. Sowerby 1772. London 1647, 1st ed. Sowerby 1772. First Printing of Selden's Edition of Fleta and His Ad Fletam Dissertatio Selden, John [1584-1645], Editor. Fleta, Seu Commentarius Juris Anglicani Sic Nuncupatus, Sub Edwardo Rege Primo Seu Circa Annos ab Hinc CCCXL. Ab Anonymo Conscriptus, Atque e Codice Veteri, Autore Ipso Aliquantulum Recentiori, Nunc Primum Typis Editus. Accedit Tractatulus Vetus de Agendi Excipiendique; Formulis Gallicanus, Fet-Assavoir Dictus. Subjungitur Etiam Joan. Seldeni ad Fletam Dissertatio Historica. London: Typis M.F. Prostant Apud Guil. Lee, & Dan. Pakeman, 1647. [8], 64, 63-452, [2], 453-553, [3] pp. Pagination irregular. Complete. Quarto (8-1/2" x 6-1/2"). Handsome period-style quarter calf over cloth, lettering piece, blind ornaments and gilt-ruled raised bands to spine. Negligible light rubbing to boards, some fading to spine. Title page printed in red and black. Moderate toning to text, occasional faint dampspotting, faint dampstaining to margins in a few places, internally clean. A very nice copy. $750. * First edition. The work by an anonymous author describes the practice of the courts, the forms of writs and an explanation of law terms as they existed during the reign of Edward I. Selden brought this ancient treatise to the public's attention and was instrumental in its publication. While Bracton earns the highest praise as the father of legal learning, Fleta earns a share of it for the illustrations he offered to some of the obscurities found in Bracton. Selden's appended dissertation (pp.453-553) contains many interesting observations about Bracton, Britton, Fleta, and Thornton "and shows what use was made of the Imperial law in England whilst the Romans governed here, at what time it was introduced into this nation, what use was formerly made of it, how long it continued, and when the use of it totally ceased in the King's Courts at Westminster": Bridgman, A Short View of Legal Bibliography 87. Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson 1647. English Short-Title Catalogue R15006.
(Inventory #: 64803)