LITTELL, William (1768-1824). The Statute Law of Kentucky; with Notes, Praelections, and Observations on the Public Acts. Comprehending also, the Laws of Virginia and Acts of Parliament in force in this Commonwealth. Frankfort: William Hunter; Butler & Wood, 1809-1811, 1814, 1819.
5 volumes, 8vo (216 x 127 mm). (Toning and spotting throughout, repairs to pp.545 and 547 of vol.2, marginal dampstaining in gutter to first few leaves of vol.4, minor tape.) Modern calf-backed boards. Provenance: John Cheatham (partially obscured ownership signature on titles); New York Bar Association (stamps on titles, call numbers on versos).
FIRST EDITION. Littell moved to Kentucky in 1801, where he received a law degree and began writing about legal history for the state. The present statutes, published over a period of ten years, were originally intended to be just three volumes (as evidenced by the title-pages) but were later expanded to five. The Shaw & Shoemaker bibliography entry covers the five volumes as one work, though they are cited individually by McMurtrie. These are relatively early for Kentucky printing, which began in Lexington in 1787. McMurtrie 340, 363, 394, 508, 726; Shaw & Shoemaker 17866.
This lot is located in Chicago.
