A Compleat Guide for Justices of Peace, In Two Parts, The First..

1707. Scarce Final Edition of a Notable English JP Manual Bond, J[ohn]. J.W., Editor. A Compleat Guide for Justices of Peace. In Two Parts. The First Containing the Common and Statute Laws Relating to the Office of a Justice of the Peace. The Second, Consisting of the Most Authentick and Useful Precedents Which do Properly Concern the Same. Originally Composed by J. Bond, Esq; And Now Revised, Corrected, Very Much Enlarged, And Continued Down to This Time. By J.W. of the Middle-Temple, Esq. London: Printed by the Assigns of Richard and Edward Atkins, Esqs; For I. Cleave, At the Star Next Serjeants-Inn in Chancery-Lane; And W. Freeman, At the Bible Against the Middle-Temple-Gate in Fleetstreet, 1707. [xxviii], 306, [2]; 222, [10] pp. Two parts, each with title page and individual pagination, second part, with an imprint dated 1706, has title beginning A Collection of Authentick and Useful Precedents. Final leaf of each part is a publisher advertisement. Second part lacking leaves Ii4 and Ii5 (pp. 135-138). Octavo (7-1/2" x 4-1/2"). Contemporary calf, rebacked in period style, blind frames to boards, blind fillets along joints, gilt tooling to board edges, raised bands, lettering piece and gilt publication date to spine, corners mended, endpapers renewed. Light rubbing and a few minor scuffs and faint early markings in pen to boards. Light toning to interior, corner folds to a few leaves, faint dampstaining and spotting to edges of a few leaves at beginning and end of text block, light soiling and edgewear to title page of first part. $250. * Final edition, one of two issues, both from 1707, the other incorrectly designated "third edition." Bond thought his manual was necessary to restate the laws and procedures concerning justices, which he felt had been corrupted during the years of the Civil War and Commonwealth. The contents are digested alphabetically by topic. Published in 1685, it proved to be a useful work. After its 1687 reissue, it went through three more editions. All are scarce. Counting both issues, OCLC locates 7 copies of the 1707 edition in North American law libraries (Harvard, LA County, Ohio State University, University of Georgia, University of Minnesota, UT-Austin, Yale). English Short-Title Catalogue T508682. (Inventory #: 82491)