ESSAYS IN LEGAL HISTORY

Bynkershoek, Cornelius van: Opuscula varii argumenti, his inscriptionibus: I. Praetermissa ad L.2. D. De origine iuris. II. De rebus mancipi et nec mancipi. III. De jure occidendi, vendendi, et exponendi liberos apud veteres Romanos. IV. De cultu religionis peregrinae apud veteres Romanos. V. De captatoriis institutionibus. VI. De legatis poenae nomine. Lugduni Batavorum [Leiden], apud Joannem vander Linden, juniorem 1719.

First edition of this important collection of six essays by the celebrated Dutch legal theorist Cornelius van Bynkershoek (1673-1743), standing out is possibly the third, on the right of a head-of-family in Roman law to kill, sell or abandon their child. The fourth is on toleration of alien religion, which was (still is) a topical subject; although the author studies the ancient Romans, he adds more recent references. The other pieces are on the origins of Roman law; and on quite technical matters - the law of transference of rights in persons and things; and on abusive wills, that compel beneficiaries either to make certain grants, or to carry out actions. It is sometimes (not here) bound with a 99-page supplement (1723) to the third essay, in response to criticism from Gerardt Noodt.

Details

4to., pp. [16] 408 [32], with final blank. Title in red and black, woodcut tail-piece, woodcut initials. A good copy, bound in contemporary calf, spine gilt with red morocco gilt label; sympathetically repaired. A couple of neat recent inscriptions on f.f.e.p., one in ballpoint, the other pencil.