LITTLETON, SIR THOMAS; HOUARD, [DAVID] ED & TR

Anciennes Loix des Francois, Conservees Dans les Coutumes Angloises...

      Littleton, Sir Thomas [d.1481]. Houard, David [1725-1802], Editor and Translator. Anciennes Loix des Francois, Conservees Dans les Coutumes Angloises, Recueillies par Littleton; Avec des Observations Historiques & Critiques, Ou l'on Fait Voir que les Coutumes & Usages Suivis Anciennement en Normandie, Sont les Memes que Ceux qui Etoient en Viguer dans Toute la France sous les Deux Premieres Races de nos Rois. Ouvrage Egalement Utile pour L'Etude de Notre Ancienne Histoire & Pour L'Intelligence du Droit Coutumier de Chaque Province. Rouen: De L'Imprimerie de Richard Lallement, 1766. Two volumes. Main text in parallel columns. Quarto (9-3/4" x 8"). Recent period-style quarter calf over cloth, raised bands and lettering pieces to spines, endpapers renewed, edges rouged. Some chipping to fore-edge of dedication leaf, which was been rehinged, small faint stains to a few leaves, interiors otherwise fresh. Ex-library. Tiny stamp to two leaves. A handsome set. $4,500. * Only edition. Written during the reign of Edward IV [1442-1483] and first published around 1481, Littleton's Tenures is probably the most revered treatise in the history of the common law. Much admired for its learning and style, it is concerned with land tenure and other issues relating to real property. This venerable work is considered a landmark because it was the first treatise to renounce the principles of Roman law (and Latin) in favor of a set of guidelines and doctrines drawn from the Year Books, and when necessary, hypothetical cases. Houard was a member of Parliament and respected scholar of the customary law of Normandy. His works include the four-volume Dictionnaire Analytique, Historique, Etymologique, Critique et Interpretive de la Coutume de Normandie (1780-82). As the title of Anciennes Loix indicates, Houard believed that Littleton's treatise preserved and developed a body of Norman customary laws dating from the time of the conquest. In effect, it was both a record of early Norman law and a contribution to Norman jurisprudence. Littleton's text is accompanied by a French translation and numerous annotations. Camus, Bibliotheque Choisie des Livres de Droit 1165.