The Office and Authority of Coroners and Sheriffs, With Directions..

1641. An Important Seventeenth-Century Handbook for Coroners and Sheriffs Wilkinson, John. A Treatise Collected Out of the Statutes of this Kingdome, And According to Common Experience of the Lawes, Concerning the Office and Authorities of Coroners and Sheriffes. Together with an Easie and Plaine Method for the Keeping of a Court Leet, Court Baron, And Hundred Court, &c. [London?]: S.n., Anno Domini, 1641. [iv], 224, 177-240 pp. Pagination irregular, text complete. Octavo (5-1/2" x 4-1/2"). Later quarter calf over cloth, lettering piece to spine, publication date in gilt to foot of spine, endpapers renewed. Light rubbing to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, a few nicks to spine, corners lightly bumped, hinges cracked through, joints just starting, boards secure, two small library markings to front pastedown, small library stamp to title page. Moderate toning to interior, faint spotting in places, light soiling to title page and verso of final leaf. $650. * Fourth edition, one of two issues, both in 1641. The first work for coroners and sheriffs by a named author, who was an attorney of Barnard's Inn. First published in 1618, it was a standard work during the seventeenth century. Carefully organized, it has separate sections on each officer and court. All editions of this work are scarce. OCLC locates 11 copies of the fourth edition in North American law libraries. Our copy is a hybrid of the two issues: It has the title page of one and the text of the other. English Short-Title Catalogue R234778 (title page), S30667 (text).