Laws of the State of North Carolina
Edenton, North Carolina: 1791. Folio. 712, (xxiv), [2 leaves], 713-732, 20, 19, (2), 8, 20, 45, 15, 27, 20, 8 pages. Bound in early full calf with blind tooling along the edges of the binding. The front and rear hinges appear to have been reinforced with a flexible type of glue. Burgundy spine label is a little chipped and shows some wormholes. The binding is sound. Lacks the front flyleaves; the first leaf is the title page. 20th century pencil notations and an antique shop's label is on the front paste down. Early owner's signature of Isaac Nelson is at the top of the title page, and there is a red stain on the title. The text is browned and foxed with the foxing sometimes heavy. There are also several 19th century inscriptions on the rear flyleaves and in the text, dating from the 1850s as well as during the Civil War. One 1851 inscription on the rear flyleaf notes that this volume was bought (by Steven Hester) at Allen Whicker's auction in Forsyth County in 1850. The initial title page for this work is 1791, but the date on the spine is 1799. This volume also has about 9 separately printed compilations of yearly laws bound in at the rear covering each year from 1792 to 1799. Each section is paginated separately and has renewed printers signatures (A, B, C, etc.). There is a final 8 page index at the very end. Thus, while the initial and main body of the work was 1791, this seems to have been bound together in 1799. A scarce 18th century North Carolina imprint with additional material which is often found and sold separately.
A truly beautiful copy of this work. Not Ex-Lib. Item #100107
Price: $4,500.00