A New Law-Dictionary: Containing the Interpretation... 4th Ed

1739. Fourth Edition of Jacob's Great Dictionary Jacob, Giles [1686-1744]. A New Law-Dictionary: Containing, The Interpretation and Definition of Words and Terms Used in the Law; and Also the Whole Law, and the Practice Thereof, Under All the Heads and Titles of the Same. Together With Such Informations Relating Thereto, as Explain the History and Antiquity of the Law, and Our Manners, Customs, and Original Government. Collected and Abstracted From All Dictionaries, Abridgments, Institutes, Reports, Year-Books, Charters, Registers, Chronicles, and Histories, Published to This Time. And Fitted for the Use of Barristers, Students, and Practisers of the Law, Members of Parliament, and Other Gentlemen, Justices of Peace, Clergymen, &c. Corrected, With Farther Large Additions, and the Law-Proceedings Done Into English. To Which is Annexed, a Table of References to All the Arguments and Resolutions of the Lord Chief Justice Holt; In the Several Volumes of the Reports. [London]: Printed by E. and R. Nutt, and R. Gosling, 1739. [806] pp. Main text printed in double columns. Folio (13-1/2" x 8-1/2"). Contemporary reversed calf, blind rules to boards, blind fillets along joints, raised bands and lettering piece to spine, early repair to rear joint. Light rubbing and a few scuffs and light stains to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities with wear to spine ends and corners, which are bumped, joints and hinges cracked but secure, endleaves removed, inkspatters to pastedowns. Light toning to text, somewhat heavier in places, light foxing to a few leaves. $500. * Fourth edition. As Cowley has pointed out, A New Law-Dictionary was both Jacob's masterpiece and "an entirely new departure in legal literature" that provided a model for several subsequent efforts. In contrast to earlier works, each entry summarizes all of the laws relating to the subject and offers extensive interpretive commentary. Obsolete terms are omitted. It was recognized almost immediately that Jacob created a highly useful legal encyclopedia that was more detailed and concise than any other abridgment of the period. An extremely popular work that went through twelve editions between 1729 and 1800, it offers unparalleled insights into Anglo-American law during the eighteenth century. Cowley, A Bibliography of Abridgements, Digests, Dictionaries and Indexe.