"A VERY EXCELLENT BOOK" (LORD KENYON): 1685 EDITION OF RASTELL'S LES TERMES DE LA LEY, THE FIRST ENGLISH LAW DICTIONARY

RASTELL, John. Les Termes de la Ley; or, Certain difficult and obscure Words and Terms of the Common Laws and Statutes. London: G. Walbanke, S. Heyrick, J. Place, J. Poole, and R. Sare, 1685. Small octavo, contemporary full sheep rebacked, retaining red morocco spine label, raised bands. $1650.

Last 17th-century edition of the first English law dictionary, in nicely rebacked contemporary sheep.

This first English law dictionary, first published by Rastell in Old French and Latin in 1527, precedes the first general English dictionary (Elyot's Dictionarie) by 11 years, and was also intended as a guide to law French. "The authorship of this volume has been ascribed to both John and William Rastell. The former quit the profession of the law for that of printing, and the latter that of printing for the law… Mr. Reeves is of the opinion that John Rastell composed the work, and that William translated it. Lord Kenyon calls it 'a very excellent book'" (Marvin). Rastell's last years were unhappily spent in prison, in consequence of his criticism of the practice of paying tithes, and likely also because of the suspicion attaching to him as the friend and brother-in-law of Thomas More. Rastell's work first appeared in English in 1567 (attributed to Rastell's son). Text in English and French, printed in parallel columns. Wing R292. Marvin, 599. Engraved armorial bookplate, early owner ink signature dated 1696, owner ink signature to title page. Old manuscript title label affixed to margin of one interior leaf.

Text generally clean. Nicely rebacked.