William Blackstone

Commentaries on the Laws of England in Four Books, with Notes Selected from the Editions...4 Vols. William Blackstone Final edition

Originally published: Philadelphia: Geo. T. Bisel Co., 1922. 4 Vols. Reprint of the final reissue of edition first published in 1897. "The material used in the preparation of this edition may be divided into four classes. First, [modern research] into the history of our law, such as the works of Maine, of Pollock and Maitland, and of Vinogradoff. Second, the statutes in England and the United States which modify the statements in the text. Third, the notes of my predecessors. Fourth, the cases decided and the text-books published since Blackstone's day which have referred to him as an authority. (...) The fourth class of material is, in my judgment, by far the most important. All reports and text-books published since Blackstone's day were carefully searched for references to his work.": Preface iii.