1793 Commentaries on the Laws of England by William Blackstone. Famous and very scarce edition. An incredible, valuable edition of William Blackstone’s ‘Commentaries on the Laws of England.’ According to Lowndes, “Of these Commentaries Sir William Jones observed, ‘they are the most correct and beautiful outline that ever was exhibited in any human science.’” This edition is the first edition to include 13 portraits of English judges, and the last to include edits by Blackstone. Considered the most important pre-Revolution source of common and civil law in the United States. Famous for being used as the key to Benedict Arnold’s book cipher during the American Revolution. According to the Printing and the Mind of Man: “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, Englishmen had viewed the law as a vast, unintelligible and nothing but trouble, even danger. Blackstone's great achievement was to popularize the law and the traditions which had influenced its formation. He takes a delight in describing and defending as the essence of the constitution the often anomalous complexities which had grown into the laws of England over the centuries. But he achieves the astonishing feat of communicating this delight, and this is due to a style which is itself always lucid and graceful. This is the secret of Blackstone’s enormous influence. Printed by A. Strahan and W. Woodfall, for T. Cadell, 1793-95. Volumes 1,2 and 3 of four volumes. Full leather. Rebound at some time in the distant past. Hinges still sound. Five raised bands on spine. Clean and clear dark maroon compartment labels with vivid gilt titling. Tips worn through at very ends; edges rubbed; minor chipping to bottom spines of volumes 1 and 2. 1-1/2" thin crack at bottom spine of volume 1 and top spine of volume 2. About half of the joints have a 2" think crack at either top or bottom. Volume 1 and 3 each have a 1" surface scuff. Interiors fine with typical discoloring of endpaper edges. 5.5 x 8.5.

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Very good for age