M & S Rare Books
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(title 17, U. S. Code).
(BLACKSTONE, WILLIAM.). An Interesting Appendix to Sir William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England. Containing I. Priestley's Remarks...II. Blackstone's Reply...III. Priestley's Answer...IV. The Case of the Late Election...V. Furneaux' Letters to Blackstone...VI. Authentic Copies. Philadelphia: Robert Bell, 1773. Second American edition. 8vo. Contemp. calf, crudely rebacked. Very good. Browned. Institutional name stamped on free endpaper. Name erased from title. With the John C. Williams bookplate, engraved by Nathaniel Hurd. $1,250.00
Evans 12684. Hildeburn 2859. An important American 18th century work on the law. Bell had published the first American edition of Blackstone's Commentaries in 1771-72. The dialogue between Blackstone, Priestley and Furneaux was first published in England, but is importance for an American audience can hardly be over-estimated, as religious toleration was the bedrock of the American colonies with implications for American civil liberties. Each section is separately paginated with its own titlepage. Due to the vagaries of publishing and the times, not often found as a companion volume to the American edition of Blackstone, although clearly intended as such.
Regarded as a second edition by Evans, but as the sheets are mostly or entirely identical with the 1772 edition, one could argue that this is simply a second printing or second issue. Additionally, this is an American compilation, not appearing in this format in England.