THE DUTY AND AUTHORITY OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.
Nashville (TN): printed and sold by Thomas G. Bradford, 1810. 8vo.; 372, (7), (8)pp. Original full calf binding (edges and corners worn), leather spine label; three leaves with snags (binding faults?), resulting in the loss of a few letters; paper fault at edge of one leaf, resulting in the loss of several words. Still a sound copy for this book. Item #44028
First edition. A native of North Carolina, Haywood (1762-1826) moved to Tennessee in 1807 where he enhanced his already solid reputation as a jurist and historian, publishing a string of legal compilations and the earliest important histories of his adopted state; he served on the Tennessee Supreme Court for the last 12 years of his life.
A rare book, rather amateurishly printed and bound, it evokes the state of frontier life. An important association copy, with the following inscription: "Alex. Forgeye/acting Justice of/the Peace for/Knox County/February 29th 1812."
Though rather widely held in institutional collections (OCLC locates 22 copies), no copy has appeared at auction in more than 30 years (ABPC 1976-2007). American Imprints 20311. Allen Tennessee Imprints 162. Allen More Tennessee Rarities 340.
Price: $3,000.00