Home, Henry (Lord Kames). Historical Law-Tracts. Edinburgh, 1761. Second Edition.

Home, Henry (Lord Kames). Historical Law-Tracts. A. Kincaid, His Majesty's printer, Edinburgh, 1761. Second Edition.

Binding: Hardcover (Rebound in three-quarters leather). Book Condition: Very Good+ Condition. Size: 7.5"-8" - Small Octavo (Sm. 8vo). 463 pages. Item Type: Book.

Thomas Jefferson's copy of this edition is held by the Library of Congress as part of the Jefferson Exhibit Collection. Originally published in 1758, the book was published anonymously but written by Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696-1782), one of the leaders of the Scottish Enlightenment, a judge in the supreme courts of Scotland, and a scholar on the natural law. The bulk of the text (pp. [1]-426) consists of 14 tracts relating, as the Preface describe them, "to subjects common to the law of England and of Scotland" (p. xii). The remainder (pp. 427-463) is an Appendix with supporting material.

The text block is tight. The paper is slightly toned from age but is well preserved. Beautifully rebound in three-quarters leather with marbled paper over the boards. Title and date in gilt on black labels and gilt lines and decorations on the spine. The binding shows no wear. No foxing in this copy. "No.16" is written at the upper right corner of the title page. The attribution of the author as "Kaimes" is written in pencil at the top of the page, as well. The top page may have been gilted, but now has the appearance of a brown wash. The other edges are clean with no spotting. Has an original stamp from Worcester County Law Library at the top left margin of the title page. A faint red "Discarded" stamp is over part of the decoration and publisher's information in the bottom half of the title page. There is an accession number at the bottom of the first page of the Preface (p. [v]).

xv, [1], 463, [1] p. ; 22 cm (8vo). Signatures: A-2G⁸. Bookseller's advertisements: page [xiv]. Printed by A. Kincaid, His Majesty's printer, for A. Millar, London; and A. Kincaid and J. Bell, in Edinburgh, 1761. With half-title.

English short title catalogue, entry T67124; Sowerby, E.. M. Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, entry 2008 (LCCN 14015104); OCLC 707960637.

Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: 1 lb 6 oz. Category: Antiquarian & Rare; Scotland; 18th century; Law & Criminal Studies. ISBN: No ISBN. Inventory No: 1166.
PRICE: $US 250