The Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of England, from the Earliest Times till the Reign of King George IV
London: John Murray, 1845; 1846; 1847; 1869. First edition. Hardcover. 8 vol. 8vo. [7], viii-xxviii, [1], 2-652, [2]; [3], iv-xix, [2], 2-621, [3]; [3], iv-xix, [2], 2-596, [2]; [5], vi-xxiii, [2], 2-687, [3]; [3], iv-xx, [1], 2-678, [2]; [3], iv-xx, [1], 2-709, [5]; [5], vi-xx, [1], 2-736, [2]; [3], vi-xvi, [1], 2-686, [2] pp. Full contemporary tree calf with gilt borders on the boards, spines in six compartments with a red and black morocco label lettered in gilt on each spine, spines decorated with gilt; all edges decoratively marbled. Marbled endpapers and pastedowns. Volume eight lacks its half-title page. The first three volumes trace the history of the position of Lord Chancellor from its early days to the Revolution of 1688. The second set reviews Lord Chancellors from the Revolution of 1688 to the death of Lord Chancellor Thurlow in 1806. The third series concludes with the time period between the birth of Lord Chancellor Loughborough, in 1733, to the Death of Lord Chancellor Eldon in 1838. Volume eight stretches the series to the Reign of Queen Victoria, and provides an index to the whole series. The final volume was published after Campbell's death and includes biographies of Lord Chancellors Lyndhurst and Brougham. Oxford DNB, Gareth H. Jones and Vivienne Jones, ".Campbell, John, first Baron Campbell of St Andrews (1779–1861)". John Lord Campbell is most famous for his legal, historical biographies of prominent English men in politics. In its day the Lives of the Lord Chancellors was popular with royalty, politicians, judges, and lawyers. From a modern perspective, Campbell is criticized for his neglect of primary sources for evidence, and is recognized as heavily leaning on anecdotal evidence and contemporary gossip to tell his stories in the Lives of the Lord Chancellors. However, many regard his stories of the different figures as charming and even comedic. A beautifully bound set of English political history. Very Good+. Item #00009682
Joints of volume one and eight professionally strengthened, else only minor rubbing to the extremities; leaves are largely clean with a touch of foxing, bookplate on the front pastedown of volume eight.
Price: $1,250.00