Halifax, and its Gibbet-Law; Placed in a true Light. Together with a Description of the Town…….An Account of the Gentry….. Many Other Matters and The Unparalleled Tragedies committed by Sir John Eland.

Speckled sheepskin boards and spine in compartments, both in good condition, showing minor rubbing, unadorned except with blind rule to front and back, a little sunning to spine. Minor rubbing and shelf wear to board edges. Front and rear endpapers yellowed, browning to edges. Front endpapers splitting along inner front hinge although otherwise intact. Previous owner’s bookplate glued to front pasted endpaper reading ‘Ex Libris K K Wood’ who acquired many books from the Scruton Hall dispersal sale in the 1950s including books from the collection of Thomas and Roger Gale, antiquaries. Small black cursive noting lot numbers to verso of front free endpaper. Handsome full-page engraving titled The Gibbet on front flyleaf next to title page. Page stub follows preface, before chapter 1. 96 pp. complete and collated.

Chapter I contains a description of town customs and traditions; chapter II discusses the laws of Halifax and defends the Gibbet Law; chapter III offers a narrative of trying felons in Halifax. The second part of the book contains a separate title page ‘Revenge upon revenge: or, an historical narrative of the tragical practices of Sir John Eland, of Eland, High Sheriff of the County of York…’