Little Law Books

The phrase "law books" often conjures the image of endless rows of folios or quartos on a shelf, attesting to the learning and stature of their owner. There is no question that larger formats have dominated Anglo-American legal publishing. However, as Hoeflich and Moreland demonstrate, books of smaller size were of no lesser importance. Whether carried by a Carolingian royal official, a territorial judge riding circuit, a Philadelphia farmer, or a primary school student, little law books made legal principles practical and portable. Today, they are a rich source of historical insights-and aesthetic pleasure-for the legal historian or bibliophile.

26 pp.