BLACKSTONE, William. Commentaries on the Laws of England. London: A. Strahan, 1809. Four volumes. Octavo, modern three-quarter brown speckled calf, raised bands, marbled boards, red and black morocco spine labels.

Handsome 1809 edition, with Blackstone’s last corrections and with notes and additions by editor Edward Christian, “one of the best editors Blackstone ever had” (Marvin, 122-26).

One of the great achievements in legal history, Blackstone’s Commentaries helped to clarify the system of English law by introducing to the public the traditions that had influenced its formation. Before the publication of Blackstone’s work, most Englishmen saw the law as something distant and mysterious, intended largely to punish; afterwards it became something common people could use to their benefit. “[T]he skillful manner in which Blackstone uses his authorities new and old, and the analogy of other systems of law, to illustrate the evolution of the law of his day, had a vast influence, both in England and America…” (NYU, 34). This was the 15th edition. With copper-engraved frontispiece portrait and folding Table of Descents in Volume II. See PMM 212. HLC I, 187. A few marginal notations in a contemporary hand. Interiors generally clean, bindings handsome.