Hackney

1678 · ref. 82424 — 1678. Important Study of Roman and Old Dutch Law Van Leeuwen Simon 1626-1682. Censura Forensis Theoretico-Practica Id est Totius Juris Civilis Romani Usuque Recepti & Practici Methodica Collatio Qua non Tantum Ipsa Juris Romani Fundamenta Ad Rationis & Veritatis Censuram Methodice Reducuntur; Sed & ad Usum Practicum Transferuntur Interjectis Constitutionibus Decisionibus Moribus & Statutis Non Tantum Generalioribus Verum Etiam Particularibus Cujusque Fere Christianorum Gentis Regionis & Provinciae. Leiden: Apud Johannem a Gelder & Amsterdam: Apud Henricum & Theodorum Boom 1678. Two volumes bound as one each with title page. Two copperplate engravings in Vol. I. xxxvi 558 34; xii 218 22 pp. Folio 12-1/4" x 7-1/2"; 31 x 19 cm. Contemporary laced vellum hand-lettered title and small early paper shelf label to spine edges rouged. Light rubbing and soiling to boards which are slightly bowed spine ends and corners bumped vellum just beginning to crack through pastedowns. Attractive woodcut printer device to title pages head and tail-pieces. Light toning to interior more moderate toning and light foxing in a few places internally clean. $450. Third edition. Van Leeuwen was a Dutch attorney active in the Hague and Leiden who became the assistant registrar of the Supreme Court at the Hague in 1681. His reputation derives from his studies Paratitula Iuris Novissimi 1652 Het Rooms-Hollands-Regt 1664 and the present work. First published in 1662 it is an important study of Roman law and old Dutch law with an emphasis on practical use. It was published soon after Holland achieved its independence from Spain. During this period Dutch law was a complicated mixture of local and Spanish sources which often conflicted. In this work van Leeuwen restated Dutch law by removing Spanish elements and grounding it on principles derived from Roman law. It also has interesting comparisons between Dutch law Roman law and the laws of other nations. Though never highly regarded in Holland this work was translated into the principal European languages and issued in numerous editions during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It was especially influential in South Africa where it was cited extensively and given a statutory place as a subsidiary authority in the South African Republic. unknown