"COUNSELLOR BOTHER'UM AND COUNSELLOR BORE'UM"

[ANSTEY, John]. The Pleader's Guide, a Didactic Poem, in Two Books. London: Pr. for T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies, 1796 & 1802. Octavo, contemporary full tree calf, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, red morocco spine label. $1000.

First editions of both parts of this humorous legal poem, handsomely bound.

"Containing the conduct of a suit at law, with the arguments of Counsellor Bother'um, and Counsellor Bore'um, in an action betwixt John-a-Gull, and John-a-Gudgeon, for assault and battery, at a late contested election," this legal poem is both amusing and educational: Anstey, a barrister who used the pseudonym "John Surrebutter," provided serious footnotes for the legal references and technical terms. The poem "has a great deal of humour, though chiefly of a legal kind. Porson is said to have known it by heart, and Lord Campbell quotes it in his 'Lives of the Justices'" (DNB); it was popular enough in its day to go through eight editions. Book I with final advertisement leaf, book II with final errata leaf. ESTC T9085. Harvard Law Catalogue I: 56. Sweet & Maxwell I: 262. Armorial bookplate.

Edges lightly rubbed; front joint starting from head. A handsome copy of these uncommon first editions.