Jacob

1768 · Best.-Nr. 59841 — 1768. The Dawn of the "Self-Help" Legal Genre in the New World Jacob Giles 1686-1744. Every Man His Own Lawyer: Or A Summary of the Laws of England In a New and Instructive Method Under the Following Heads Viz. I. Of Actions and Remedies Writs Process Arrests and Bail. II. Of Courts Attornies and Solicitors Therein Juries Witnesses Trials Executions &c. III. Of Estates and Property in Lands and Goods And How Acquired Ancestors Heirs Executors and Administrators. IV. Of the Laws Relating to Marriage Bastardy Infants Ideots Lunaticks. V. Of the Liberty of the Subject Magna Charta the Habeas Corpus Act and other Statutes. VI. Of the King and his Prerogative the Queen and Prince Peers Judges Sheriffs Coroners Justices of Peace Constables &c. VII. Of Publick Offences Treason Murder Felony Burglary Robbery Rape Sodomy Forgery Perjury &c. and Their Punishment. All of Them so Plainly Treated of That All Manner of Persons May be Particularly Acquainted With Our Laws and Statutes Concerning Civil and Criminal Affairs And Know How to Defend Themselves and Their Estates and Fortunes An All Cases Whatsoever. Corrected and Improved With Many Additions from Lord Raymond Comyn Strange Foster And with the Statute Law Down to 4 Geo. 3. Inclusive. New-York: Printed by Hugh Gaine 1768. iv 289 13 pp. Octavo 7-1/4" x 4-1/2". Contemporary sheep blind fillets and decorative blind tooling to boards. Moderate rubbing to extremities some chipping to spine ends corners bumped and lightly worn a few minor scuffs to boards hinges cracked light browning to text. Early owner signature to rear pastedown interior otherwise clean. $2000. First American edition designated the seventh on the title page in reference to the prior six editions published in London. Before the Revolution access to legal knowledge was often guarded by the elite. Giles Jacob one of the 18th century's most prolific legal minds sought to change that. While his peers wrote for the bench and bar Jacob wrote for "All Manner of Persons." He was a legal idealist who believed that a society is only as just as its citizens are informed-a philosophy clearly reflected in this landmark publication. While the work saw ten successful editions in London between 1736 and 1788 this 1768 New York printing marks a pivotal. unknown