"NA A MAN SOULD PLAY AT THE GOLFE…BECAUSE THEY ARE ESTEMED TO BE UNPROFITABLE SPORTS FOR THE COMMON GUDE OF THE REALME": 1774 EDITION OF SKENE'S LAWES OF SCOTLAND

(SCOTLAND) (GOLF) SKENE, John. Regiam Majestatem. The Auld Lawes and Constitutions of Scotland, Faithfullie Collected Furth of the Register, and other Auld authentick bukes, fra the dayes of King Malcolme the second, untill the time of King James the first, of gude Memorie… Edinburgh: John Wood, 1774. Quarto, contemporary full dark brown mottled calf rebacked with original gilt-decorated spine laid down, marbled endpapers. $750.

Second edition in English—an 18th-century fine reprinting of the 1609 first edition in English—of "the first authentic body of laws of the Kingdom of Scotland" (Bishop Nicholson, in Allibone, 2115). The first edition is renowned for containing an early printed mention of the game of golf.

"An extremely valuable contribution to the history of Scots law" (NYU, 41). Compiled for "the use and knowledge of all the subjects within this Realme," Skene's comprehensive survey stemmed from a desire to fashion from the "auld lawes" a consistent Scottish legal system. Many of the laws and statutes apply to criminal prosecution, including punishments for witchcraft, stealing, and the "ravishing of Weemen," while others concern the distribution of land and titles and the settlement of property disputes. The prohibition on golf (along with "futball") was an early printed mention of golf in the 1608 Latin first edition and the 1609 first edition in English. See Sweet & Maxwell I: 370; Donovan & Murdoch, 1; Catalogue of the Harvard Law Library, II, 595. Owner ink initials to title page; occasional penciled marginalia.

Infrequent light foxing. Expert restoration to corners. Very good in contemporary calf covers.