Scots law
Set of manuscript notes from David Hume's lectures on Scots law at Edinburgh, 1790
£693
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 28 September 2022 from 10:00 BST
Description
4 volumes, 4to (various dimensions, first volume 23 x 18.5cm), contemporary sheep-backed marbled boards, spine-labels reading 'Hume's Lectures on the Scots Law' (and volumes numbered 1, 2, 5 and 6), 174 pp., 162-314 ff., 624-777 ff., 778-837 ff., topics including marriage, contracts, teinds, tack, adjudication, succession in heritage, and more, volumes 2 and 5 with title-pages (the former reading 'Notes of Mr Hume's Lectures of the Scots Law, 17908 ... taken by George Peat'; similar formulation in volume 5), volumes 1 and 4 with numerous additional pages of later notes at rear (on agriculture, chemistry, and the novel Eothen, signed W. W. Orrock and dated 1848), near-contemporary ownership inscriptions (Alex Orrock) to front pastedown of each volume, bindings worn, volume 1 boards detached, volume 2 title-page with juvenile pencil markings
Footnote
Note:
David Hume (1757-1838), nephew of the philosopher, was appointed professor of Scots law at the University of Edinburgh in 1786. He was appointed Baron of the Exchequer in 1822, and is usually known as Baron Hume to distinguish him from his uncle. He was the outstanding law professor of his generation, and his lectures on private law, the subject of these notes, 'were highly praised and students flocked to them ... Hume forbade publication of his lectures, but copies circulated and they were cited in court, many of his pupils reaching the bench ... The lectures recast Scottish private law ready for the nineteenth century' (ODNB).