Home / Browse / Philosophy & History of Ideas / De Legibus & consuetudinibus Angliae Libri quinque
BRACTON, Henry de.
De Legibus & consuetudinibus Angliae Libri quinque
in varios tractatus distincti, ad diversorum et vetustissimorum codicum collationem, ingenti cura, nunc primum typis vulgati: quorum quid cuique insit, proxima pagina demonstrabit.
First edition of a classic of English law, "incomparably the best work produced by any lawyer in the middle ages" (Encyclopaedia Britannica), "a formulation of principles which have determined the whole development of English law, of which the use of precedents is perhaps the most characteristic", and "a model for legal literature until the present day" (PMM).
Folio (293 × 195 mm). Contemporary calf, rebacked and recornered with old gilt spine laid down. Housed in a dark brown cloth solander box. Rubbed, front joint a little worn, title slightly soiled, marginal tear to f. 288 not affecting text, finger-mark to the gutter of f. 355 and small burn-mark to f. 422 touching a couple of letters, these flaws minor only and not detracting significantly from a very good copy.
