Lot 249
Law, commerce, general reference
Collection of works in contemporary and near-contemporary bindings, 18th and 19th century
Auction: From the Library of Professor Roland Paxton | 01 October 2026 from 10am | Lots 221 to 252
Description
[Faculty of Advocates]. Decisions of the Court of Session. Edinburgh, 1787-98. 3-volume set, folio (31 x 19cm), tree calf, raised bands, with original red morocco spine labels, collection of various editions covering the years 1752-56, 1756-60, 1760-64, toning to margins of title pages but otherwise internally very clean [ESTC T208151, T109951, T109949];
Bond, J. A Compleat Guide for Justices of the Peace. In Two Parts. London: Richard and Edward Atkins, 1707. Third edition, 8vo (18.7 x 11.2cm), calf, raised bands, corner tips worn [ESTC T120785];
Coles, Elisha. An English Dictionary Explaining the Difficult Terms that are Used in Divinity, Husbandry, Physick, Philosophy, Law, Navigation, Mathematicks, and other Arts and Sciences. London: printed for Peter Parker, 1708. 8vo (17.6 x 10cm), calf rebacked, dampstaining to initial leaves and repairs to bottom corners of first three leaves, slight worming to initial and final leaves, boards worn with some light staining [Alston, V, 70; ESTC N6418];
Hatton, Edward. The Merchant's Magazine: or, Trades Man's Treasury. London: printed for Chr. Coningsby, 1719. 7th impression corrected and improved, 4to (20 x 14.6cm), sprinkled calf, raised bands, portrait frontispiece, 5 engraved plates, light dampstaining [ESTC T68032];
Blewert, William. Perpetual and Determinable Annuities Reduced to a Level; or, a Comparitive [sic] View of Long and Short Annuities. London: printed by M. Vint, 1792. First edition, 8vo (15.3 x 8.5cm), sprinkled calf [ESTC T110972];
Hutcheson, Gilbert. Treatise on the Offices of Justice of Peace, Constable, Commissioner of Supply, and Commissioner under Comprehending Acts in Scotland. Edinburgh: printed for William Creech, 1806. 2 volumes, first edition, 8vo (22 x 13cm), tree calf, red and black morocco spine labels, binder's ticket of J. Young, Inverness on front pastedowns;
and with 15 others (not collated), including three folio volumes of public general statues 1798-99 and 1801 bound in reverse calf, folio volume containing acts of parliament 1710-12 bound in panelled calf, folio volume containing the principal acts of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1727-47 bound in half calf with marbled paper boards (24)
Provenance
From the collection of the late Professor Roland Paxton MBE FICE FRSE (1932-2025), 'Britain's foremost historian of civil engineering' (Telegraph, obituary, 12th November 2025); Professor Paxton was also a leading conservationist of Britain's engineering heritage, and led successful campaigns to restore two of the world's most important railway structures, the Laigh Milton Viaduct in Ayrshire, the world's oldest surviving railway bridge, and the Union Chain Bridge, the world's oldest suspension bridge still carrying road traffic.