[Rarebooks] fs-Trial by Jury

[Joe Luttrell]

A selection of works which we have in stock on trial by jury and 
related subjects; for others, please feel free to browse our web 
site, where you may search our entire inventory by any word or 
phrase: www.meyerbos.com

1.  BALDWIN, John and Michael McConville.  Jury Trials.  Clarendon
Press, Oxford, 1979.  Original cloth, a very good copy, in the
dustjacket. [71949]                                       $ 45.00

2.  BENTHAM, Jeremy.  The Elements of the Art of Packing, As
Applied to Special Juries, Particularly in Cases of Libel Law.
McCoy B200.  Published by Effingham Wilson, Royal Exchange, London,
1821.  Modern calf, a good clean and wide-margined copy. [68842
DUSSHELF L74]                                            $ 750.00

First published edition of Bentham's fierce defense of freedom of
the press, one of his "most important writings on judicial
administration", attacking (in his words) the "infamous practice"
of specially choosing jurors in important political cases.

3.  [BOOK OF ASSIZES].  Le Liver des Assises et Plees del Corone,
moues & dependaunts deuant les Iustices, cibien en lour circuits
come aylours, en temps le Roy Edward letierce [etc.]. S.T.C. 9602.
Folio in 4's.  [A. Islip] Ex Typographia Societatis Stationariorum,
London, 1606.  Modern 3/4 calf, some browning and staining, moreso
at the end, lacking two leaves, else a crisp copy. [72101]
                                                          $ 450.00

A Year Book of unique value, in S.F.C. Milsom's words "[t]he only
early collection of reports from the country [as opposed to
Westminster] [and] rich in curiosities . . . it reports processes
we do not otherwise see, on circuit, before juries".

4.  COCKBURN, J.S. & Thomas A. Green (eds.).  Twelve Good Men and
True, The Criminal Trial Jury in England, 1200-1800.  Princeton
University Press, Princeton, 1988.  Original cloth, a very good
copy, in the dustjacket. [72056]                          $ 75.00

Eleven essays, including those by J.M. Beattie, Douglas Hay, and
the two editors, in A.W.B. Simpson's words "highly original . . .
considerably extend[ing] knowledge and understanding of the central
institution of the common law criminal trial".

6.  E[UER], S[amson].  Tryals per Pais; Or the Law Concerning
Juries by Nisi-Prius . . . Methodically Composed for the Publick
Good [etc.]. Wing E3411A.  Printed by John Streater, and James
Flesher [etc.], London, 1665.  Contemporary calf, rebacked,
ex-library, title dusty; sound. [68980 BLSL74]         $ 2,500.00

The rare first edition variant of the first substantial treatise on
the English jury and the English law of evidence, deservedly
popular and published for over a century; three copies in Wing,
none in the United Kingdom.

8.  [ERSKINE AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS].  Joseph Towers. Observations on the 
Rights and Duty of Juries in Trials for Libels:
Together with Remarks on the Origin and Nature of the Law of
Libels. McCoy T162.  Prnted for J. Debrett, Opposite
Burlington-House, in Piccadilly, London, 1784.  Modern 1/4 calf,
ex-library, the top margin of a few leaves stained, else a good
copy; first edition, without the half-title. [69953 BLS986L76]
PHOTO: http://www.meyerbos.com/bookListing.cgi?bookNo=69953
                                                          $ 850.00

The first work popularizing Erskine's famed argument in the Dean of
St. Asaph's case seeking the jury's right to determine seditious
libel, and the one "most effectively unit[ing] the themes of
distrust of government and the jury's right to decide".

9.  FORTESCUE, John.  A learned commendation of the politique lawes
of England: wherein by most pitthy reasons and evident
demonstrations they are plainelye proved farre to excell aswell the
Civile Lawes of the Empiere [etc.]. Beale T358; S.T.C. 11195. Imprinted . . . 
in Fletestrete . . . by Richarde Tottell [etc.],
London, 1573.  Modern calf, title dusty and repaired, cut close; a
sound copy. [66069 L66] PHOTO:
http://www.meyerbos.com/bookListing.cgi?bookNo=66069   $ 2,500.00

Second issuance of the first English translation of a work placed
"among the classics of English constitutional theory", written in
the late 15th century, highly popular, and the first work to
examine extensively trial by jury and the Inns of Court.

10.  HAWLES, John.  The Englishman's Right, or, a Dialogue Between
a Barrister at Law and a Juryman; Shewing . . . The Office and just
Privileges of Juries by the Law of England [with] An Introductory
Essay, on the Moral Duty of a Judge. By Lord Bacon. Cohen 1481. Printed by John 
Thompson of Philadelphia; for Alexander Brodie,
Philadelphia, 1798.  Modern calf, gilt, definite foxing and
browning, some staining, moreso to the final signatures; a sound
copy. [72024 DUSEL 10/12/2004]                           $ 850.00

The last 18th century edition of the single most important work
seeking to preserve the power and central role of the English jury,
recently termed "the foundation text of jury independence and of
the jury as the bulwark of English liberty".
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