(New York Laws) — William Smith and William Livingston (eds.) | First digest of colonial New York’s statutes

(New York Laws) — William Smith and William Livingston (eds.)

Laws Of New-York, From The Year 1691, To 1751, Inclusive... [And:] Laws Of New-York, From 11 November 1752 To 22 May 1762... New York: James Parker And William Weyman, 1752–1762

Two volumes, folio (343 x 229 x 51 mm; 330 x 222 x 32 mm). Vol. I lightly toned with instances of spotting, small areas of worming first and last leaves of vol II., with some spotting and toning. Vol. I in contemporary reverse calf, vol. II in contemporary sheep; vol. I worn and frayed at edges, small area of worming to cover, dampstaining to upper pastedown, vol. II rebacked, with restoration to edges, minor worming and discoloration to pastedowns. Together in a cloth slipcase with morocco label; worn.

“The first digest of the colonial statutes in force at that time,” according to the Dictionary of American Biography. A landmark legal compilation edited by William Smith and William Livingston, with a distinguished subscriber list including Benjamin Franklin, Charles Pinckney, and James De Lancey. The second volume, issued ten years later, addresses the French and Indian War through acts concerning military funding, recruitment, and frontier defense.

REFERENCES:

Benedict 345; Tower 624, 625; Evans 6897, 9213; Brinley 2732, 2733; ESTC W6326, W6330; Sabin 53730, 53732