Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States... 3rd ed 2 vols

1858. Bennett, E.H., Editor. 3rd ed. 2 Vols.. Bennett, E.H., Editor. 3rd ed. 2 Vols. Attractive Third Edition of Story's Commentaries on the Constitution, The Last Edition Published Before the Civil War Story, Joseph [1779-1845]. [Bennett, E.H., Editor]. Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States: With a Preliminary Review of the Constitutional History of the Colonies and States, Before the Adoption of the Constitution. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1858. Two volumes. 8, xxxiii, [ii], 735; [ii], 702 pp. (Eight-page publisher catalogue at beginning of Volume I.) Octavo (9" x 5-1/2"). Recent period-style quarter calf over cloth, raised bands, retaining original red morocco lettering pieces, endpapers renewed. Light to moderate toning, negligible foxing to a few leaves, some offsetting to margins of Volume II title page, internally clean. A nice copy in a handsome binding. $1,000. * Third edition. First published in 1833, this work is probably the most important work written on the American Constitution during the nineteenth century. Though overshadowed by Marshall on the U.S. Supreme Court, Story had no peer as a teacher or writer. Comparing the Commentaries to The Federalist, James Kent observed that Story's treatise was "written in the same free and liberal spirit, with equal exactness and soundness of doctrine, and with great beauty and eloquence of composition. Whoever seeks for a complete history and exposition of this branch of our jurisprudence, will have recourse to the above work, which is written with great candor, and characterized by extended research, and a careful examination of the vital principles upon which our government reposes." Kent cited in Marvin, Legal Bibliography 669-670. Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law 2917.