£1,500
PRESENTATION COPY of the first work, AUTHOR’S COPY of the second, 8vo, pp. 64, [ii], 22. Contemporary calf, spine gilt in compartments, boards ruled in gilt, red morocco label. Lightly toned. Rather rubbed, a touch of wear to extremities. Ownership inscription of John Periam, Wootton, to title-page of first work, with his further annotations and corrections throughout both works.
A significant copy of two rare works on the tricky matter of the tragedy of the commons as exemplified by the maintenance requirements of public highways. The first, by the barrister John Shipleigh, is the rarer second edition (5 copies in ESTC: BL, Cambridge, Manchester Central, Harvard Business & Harvard Law) - the original treatise had first appeared in 1749 and is also scarce. This copy was given by Shipleigh to his friend John Periam, who has annotated it and bound it with a copy of his own, even rarer response (3 copies in ESTC: BL, National Trust, Harvard Business). ESTC does not identify the author of the second work but here he has signed the final page, as well as recording details about the addressee, his inspiration in writing it, and other matters.
