[Rarebooks] Henry Care's English Liberties, 1682, First Edition: OVERSIGHT

[Ezra Tishman]

In original description of Henry Care’s book., I neglected to include several online resources consulted:  Digital History and The British Library websites. Apologies for the brain fog. 


> On Oct 14, 2020, at 3:31 PM, Ezra Tishman <thebookfinder at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Ezra from Aardvark offers this rare first edition of an important legal and political work
> 
> 
> Care, Henry. ENGLISH LIBERTIES; OR, THE FREEBORN SUBJECT'S INHERITANCE, CONTAINING I.
> MAGNA CHARTA, THE PETITION OF RIGHT, THE HEBEAS CORPUS ACT, AND DIVERS OTHER MOST
> USEFUL STATUTES : WITH LARGE COMMENTS UPON EACH OF THEM; II. THE PROCEEDINGS IN
> APPEALS OF MURTHER; THE WORK AND POWER OF PARLIAMENTS, THE QUALIFICATIONS
> NECESSARY FOR SUCH AS SHOULD BE CHOSEN TO THAT GREAT TRUST. PLAIN DIRECTIONS FOR ALL
> PERSONS CONCERNED IN ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS; AND HOW TO PREVENT OR TAKE OFF THE WRIT
> DE EXCOMMUNICATO CAPIENDO. AS ALSO THE OATH AND DUTY OF GRANT AND PETTY JURIES. III.
> ALL THE LAWS AGAINST CONVENTICLES AND PROTESTANT DISSENTERS WITHNOTES, AND
> DIRECTIONS BOTH TO CONSTABLES AND OTHERS CONCERN'D, THEREUPON; AND AN ABSTRACT OF
> ALL THE LAWS AGAINST PAPISTS. London.: Printed by G. Larkin for Benjamin Harris, at the Stationers Arms and
> Anchor in the Piazza under the Royal-Exchange., 1682. First Edition. Full contemporary sheep. Text measures 5 1/2" x 3 1/4".
> Leather unglued from spine and front cover from the birch (?) wood board, which has partially perished. Some worming
> throughout, which is mostly a tiny tunnel, but at the very conclusion of its 48 pp. trajectory, this worm was able to traverse
> four lines of text -- about 1 1/2" -- but text can still easily be read. x + 228pp + 6 (booksellers catalog at end - lacking probably
> 1 page). While lightly age-tanned, pages are largely bright, clean and unfoxed. Sold thu$ly, because of these condition issues).
> Extremely rare in the first edition, and in this printing, published by Care anonymously.
> 
> Extensive discussion of the concept of English liberties, the law & the actual practice. Includes the Star Chamber etc. Care was
> tried and convicted in 1680 for publishing the 'Weekly Pacque of Advice', but the judge was later removed from the bench.
> This particular work was declared "seditious", and threats were made against Care's person. A prolific writer, (and a working
> one at that) Care turned his pen to a great many topics including politics, law, pornography, Latin translation, advice for
> secretaries, etc. etc. ESTC (Citation # R31286). Scarce first appearance of a seminal work which heavily figured in the
> historical events of the era. FAIR. . Leather-bound. 
> 
> Henry Care (1646-1688) was something of a polymath who possessed "broad knowledge of the doctrine and discipline of the
> Church of England, the Roman Catholic church, Judaism, Islam, as well as English law and European and English
> history...Latin, French,and Greek..." (ODNB). Of strong opinions, he was a controversial and opinionated anti-Papist,
> published a (whig) serial called: The Daily Pacquet, for which on several occasions, he brought legal and judicial
> condemnation down upon his head. This book, English Liberties, drew from the radical reading of Magna Charta to defend
> the personal freedom of freeborn Englishmen. Building on the authority of the Great Charter, this work defended trial by jury
> and established the persisting legal freedoms based on Magna Carta, including protections against unfair taxation and statues
> prohibiting unfair imprisonment. Care’s work was condemned as seditious by the authorities but it was repeatedly
> reproduced into the 18th century, being regarded as a handbook of civil liberties, informing and inspiring American colonies
> at Boston and Providence between 1721 and 1774, who effected the Revolution.
> 
>  $3,500
> 
> 
>> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/owbxjaagyx8fi0a/AACm52CVpF3Nis1NINVQC19la?dl=0 <https://www.dropbox.com/sh/owbxjaagyx8fi0a/AACm52CVpF3Nis1NINVQC19la?dl=0>
> 
> 
> Ezra The Bookfinder
> Aardvark Books, ABAA 
> & Ezra Tishman Book Appraisals, LLC
> 3650 Chambers Street
> Eugene, OR  97405-1917
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> 
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> 
> 
> 
> 

Ezra The Bookfinder
Aardvark Books, ABAA 
& Ezra Tishman Book Appraisals, LLC
3650 Chambers Street
Eugene, OR  97405-1917
(541) 683-3131 Office     (541) 520-9821 Cell/BEST
thebookfinder at gmail.com   http://ezrabook.com
bookappraisals at gmail.com

Fine Books, Manuscripts and Archives Sold, Consigned & Appraised, since 1995.
Member ABAA, ILAB, IOBA 
Qualified Appraiser, Books and Manuscripts,  American Society of Appraisers (ASA)