Reports Of Creswell - French And English 1702 London For Sale

This is a first edition of an important English legal report. Sir Creswell Levinz served as a Justice of Common Pleas under Charles II, was dismissed by James II in 1686 for refusing to endorse the dispensing power, and was counsel for the Seven Bishops in 1688. His Reports were published posthumously in 1702 from manuscripts written entirely in his own hand — as the approval page in this copy confirms: “All written with his own Hand.”

The approval page carries the signatures of the most senior judges of England as of March 7, 1700, including Chief Justice John Holt (J. Holt) — one of the most significant Chief Justices in English legal history — and ten other named judges. This judicial endorsement was printed at the front of the volume.

The Reports were widely cited as authority in both English and American colonial courts. A copy of this first edition at the Library of Congress contains the bookplate of George Wythe (Founding Father and law teacher of Thomas Jefferson) and annotations by both Wythe and Jefferson.

Part III specifically covers Common Pleas cases from 33 Charles II through 8 William III (approximately 1681–1696), and includes three indexes: names of cases, principal matters, and pleadings.

Physical Condition

This is the most physically deteriorated book in the group assessed. The binding is essentially destroyed: both boards are completely detached from the text block, held only by the exposed cord sewing. The leather covering is lost or largely absent. The text block appears structurally present and the pages appear readable, but the book would require professional rebinding before normal handling. It is Part III only of a three-part set.