Commentaries on the Laws of England. -
William Blackstone, Esq. Solicitor General to Her Majesty
1770 - The Clarendon Press, Oxford - Fourth Edition
It Is Better That Ten Persons Escape, Than That One Innocent Suffer.
‘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; nothing but trouble, even danger, was to be expected from contact with it. Blackstone's great achievement was to popularise the law and the traditions which had influenced its formation.’
– Printing and the Mind of Man.
An attractive four volume quarto set [28 x 23 cm] in contemporary full calf binding. With two engraved tables, being the Table of Consanguinity [Vol. II p.203] and the folding Table of Descents [Vol. II p.240].
More details
Price HK$ 38,000
1770 - The Clarendon Press, Oxford - Fourth Edition
It Is Better That Ten Persons Escape, Than That One Innocent Suffer.‘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; nothing but trouble, even danger, was to be expected from contact with it. Blackstone's great achievement was to popularise the law and the traditions which had influenced its formation.’
– Printing and the Mind of Man.
An attractive four volume quarto set [28 x 23 cm] in contemporary full calf binding. With two engraved tables, being the Table of Consanguinity [Vol. II p.203] and the folding Table of Descents [Vol. II p.240].
More details
Price HK$ 38,000
The Story of My Life - Signed -
Clarence Darrow
1932 - Charles Scribner's Sons, New York - First Edition. One of 15 presentation copies
An exceptional, uncut and unread example of one of only fifteen signed presentation copies, in a large special ivory buckram binding (unnumbered as issued), and with extra illustrations, including the striking colour frontispiece portrait of Darrow (as opposed to the black and white photograph of the trade edition), sixteen photographic plates showing 21 illustrations (five more than the trade edition), one page of sketches, and a facsimile page of Darrow’s The Pilgrim.
A highly entertaining autobiography, despite Darrow’s occasional side-track, and the strength of character that made him one of America’s most combative and renowned attorney's of his time. Covers the Leopold-Loeb murder trial and the ‘Scopes’ monkey trial.
‘For 40 years the shambling figure, drawling speech, and acid wit of Clarence Darrow delighted audiences throughout the nation at his lectures and debates on many topics: questioning free will and immortality and God; opposing the tariff and prohibition and the League of Nations; advocating the closed shop, the abolition of capital punishment and child labor, reform of the judicial and penal systems…. He wrote profusely, in a forceful if undisciplined way’. – American National Biography.
More details
Price HK$ 20,000
1932 - Charles Scribner's Sons, New York - First Edition. One of 15 presentation copies
An exceptional, uncut and unread example of one of only fifteen signed presentation copies, in a large special ivory buckram binding (unnumbered as issued), and with extra illustrations, including the striking colour frontispiece portrait of Darrow (as opposed to the black and white photograph of the trade edition), sixteen photographic plates showing 21 illustrations (five more than the trade edition), one page of sketches, and a facsimile page of Darrow’s The Pilgrim.A highly entertaining autobiography, despite Darrow’s occasional side-track, and the strength of character that made him one of America’s most combative and renowned attorney's of his time. Covers the Leopold-Loeb murder trial and the ‘Scopes’ monkey trial.
‘For 40 years the shambling figure, drawling speech, and acid wit of Clarence Darrow delighted audiences throughout the nation at his lectures and debates on many topics: questioning free will and immortality and God; opposing the tariff and prohibition and the League of Nations; advocating the closed shop, the abolition of capital punishment and child labor, reform of the judicial and penal systems…. He wrote profusely, in a forceful if undisciplined way’. – American National Biography.
More details
Price HK$ 20,000
The Chamber- SIGNED -
John Grisham
1994 - Doubleday, New York - First Edition, First Printing
A fine first edition, signed by Grisham.
‘Twenty -six-year-old Adam Hall stands on the brink of a brilliant legal career. Now he is risking it all for a death-row killer and an impossible case.
Sam Cayhall is a former Klansman and unrepentant racist now facing the death penalty for a fatal bombing in 1967. He has run out of chances — except for one: the young, liberal Chicago lawyer who just happens to be his grandson.’
‘Mesmerizing… with an authority and originality… and with a grasp of literary complexity that makes Scott Turow’s novel’s pale by comparison — Grisham returns.’ – San Francisco Chronicle.
Grisham’s fifth novel, and the basis for the 1996 film starring Gene Hackman, Chris O’Donnell and Faye Dunaway.
More details
Price HK$ 1,000
1994 - Doubleday, New York - First Edition, First Printing
A fine first edition, signed by Grisham.‘Twenty -six-year-old Adam Hall stands on the brink of a brilliant legal career. Now he is risking it all for a death-row killer and an impossible case.
Sam Cayhall is a former Klansman and unrepentant racist now facing the death penalty for a fatal bombing in 1967. He has run out of chances — except for one: the young, liberal Chicago lawyer who just happens to be his grandson.’
‘Mesmerizing… with an authority and originality… and with a grasp of literary complexity that makes Scott Turow’s novel’s pale by comparison — Grisham returns.’ – San Francisco Chronicle.
Grisham’s fifth novel, and the basis for the 1996 film starring Gene Hackman, Chris O’Donnell and Faye Dunaway.
More details
Price HK$ 1,000
Shanghai: its Mixed Court and Council -
A. M. Kotenev
1925 - North-China Daily News & Herald, Shanghai - First Edition
A rare first edition of the most detailed work on Shanghai’s Municipal Council and Mixed Court from 1842 to 1924, the year before its demise.
Contents: Rules for the Mixed court, 1869. Rules of procedure of the International mixed court, 1914 and 1919, supplemented with provisions on general principles of the modern procedural laws of China, 1921. The provisional Criminal code of the republic of China. The provisional Criminal code amendment act.--The revised draft of the law on offences relating to morphine. The Chinese Supreme court decisions (1923). Rules for application of foreign laws (1921). Regulations relating to commerce. Copyright, 1916. The Law of publication, 1914. Rules of the Court of consuls. Land regulations and bye-laws for the Foreign settlement of Shanghai.
More details
Price HK$ 8,000
1925 - North-China Daily News & Herald, Shanghai - First Edition
A rare first edition of the most detailed work on Shanghai’s Municipal Council and Mixed Court from 1842 to 1924, the year before its demise.Contents: Rules for the Mixed court, 1869. Rules of procedure of the International mixed court, 1914 and 1919, supplemented with provisions on general principles of the modern procedural laws of China, 1921. The provisional Criminal code of the republic of China. The provisional Criminal code amendment act.--The revised draft of the law on offences relating to morphine. The Chinese Supreme court decisions (1923). Rules for application of foreign laws (1921). Regulations relating to commerce. Copyright, 1916. The Law of publication, 1914. Rules of the Court of consuls. Land regulations and bye-laws for the Foreign settlement of Shanghai.
More details
Price HK$ 8,000
The Cuckold's Chronicle; being Select Trials for Adultery, Incest, Imbecillity, Ravishment, &c. -
H. Lemoin [Editor]
1793 - printed for H. Lemoin, London - First Edition
In two volumes. Rare and classic, the pinnacle of publications to satisfy the late 1700’s fascination with divorce cases - contemporary pornography. Containing a large number of trials, fascinating, and in many cases bizarre, some 'never before published', such as 'The celebrated Case and Trial of the Marquis de Gesvres, upon the complaint of his Lady, Mademoiselle de Mascranny, who, after three years Marriage, commenced a Suit against him, at Paris, for Imbecility and Impotency'; and 'The Case of John Bury, Esq. of the County of Devon, who was divorced for want of his Testicles.
More details
Price HK$ 16,000
1793 - printed for H. Lemoin, London - First Edition
In two volumes. Rare and classic, the pinnacle of publications to satisfy the late 1700’s fascination with divorce cases - contemporary pornography. Containing a large number of trials, fascinating, and in many cases bizarre, some 'never before published', such as 'The celebrated Case and Trial of the Marquis de Gesvres, upon the complaint of his Lady, Mademoiselle de Mascranny, who, after three years Marriage, commenced a Suit against him, at Paris, for Imbecility and Impotency'; and 'The Case of John Bury, Esq. of the County of Devon, who was divorced for want of his Testicles.
More details
Price HK$ 16,000
On Liberty -
John Stuart Mill
1864 - Longman, London - Third edition
‘Genius can only breathe freely in an atmosphere of freedom’.
A smartly bound early printing of this powerful essay by British philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill (1806-73), first published in 1859.
On Liberty remains a major influence upon liberal political thought today, Mill defines liberty as an absolute individual right, and defends freedom of speech as a necessary condition of social and intellectual progress.
‘If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind’.
More details
Price HK$ 6,000
1864 - Longman, London - Third edition
‘Genius can only breathe freely in an atmosphere of freedom’.A smartly bound early printing of this powerful essay by British philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill (1806-73), first published in 1859.
On Liberty remains a major influence upon liberal political thought today, Mill defines liberty as an absolute individual right, and defends freedom of speech as a necessary condition of social and intellectual progress.
‘If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind’.
More details
Price HK$ 6,000