Harrison, John

Second edition (see footnote), folio (306 x 190mm.), 4 pages, drophead title, docket title on verso of least leaf (dated 1773), numbered in manuscript “42” and “142” in upper corner, faint stamp on first page, slightly dust-soiled at extremities

Very rare. STC (T72546) records 2 copies only of this edition: BL and National Trust, a third copy which had direct provenance from John and William Harrison was sold at auction earlier this year (Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, 22 February 2012, lot 126). A note with the Dreweatts copy stated that there were three editions of this work, all different, the first in 1767 (undated), another in 1770 (but no copy traced) and this edition of 1773. This pamphlet may never have been issued, because Harrison was given the £20,000 prize in 1773 (Act 13 Geo:III) and this would account for its rarity.

The Law Society of England and Wales was founded in 1825, with a library forming part of the original prospectus for the Society, and by 1832 it was housed in its present elegant building on Chancery Lane. The current selection of 22 lots all have library stamps reflecting their history and have been marked to indicate their deaccession from the Law Society’s holdings.