The Rights of War and Peace
by Hugo Grotius
First published in Paris in 1625, The Rights of War and Peace established the system of modern public international law, based on the concept of driot naturel, a morality-based law that superseded the personalities of individuals or nations. Grotius describes the situations in which war is a valid tool of law enforcement and outlines the principles of armed combat. Though based on Christian natural law, Grotius advanced the novel argument that his system would still be valid if it lacked a divine basis. [1]
Bibliographic Information
Author: Hugo Grotius.
Title: The Rights of War and Peace, in Three Books: Wherein are Explained, the Law of Nature and Nations, and the Principal Points Relating to Government.
Published: London: Printed for W. Innys and R. Manby, J. and P. Knapton, D. Brown, T. Osborn, and E. Wicksteed, 1738.
Edition: Third English edition; [4], xxxvi, 817 [i.e. 813, 1] pages.
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as Grotius and given by Thomas Jefferson to James Dinsmore. While the precise title and work are unknown, it is highly likely that Jefferson's notation refers to a copy of The Rights of War and Peace. Brown's Bibliography[2] and George Wythe's Library[3] on LibraryThing both include the 1738 English title based on a copy sold at auction in 1881 which contained George Wythe's bookplate.[4]
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in recent period-style quarter calf over marbled boards with raised bands and a lettering piece on the spine. The endpapers have been renewed. Purchased from The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
References
- ↑ Lowndes, Bibliographer's Manual of English Literature (rev, ed,) III:950. Marvin, Legal Bibliography (1847) 353. Sweet & Maxwell, A Legal Bibliography of the British Commonwealth 1:595. (56211)
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on June 28, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
- ↑ Catalogue of the Choice and Extensive Law and Miscellaneous Library of the late Hon. William Green, LL.D., … to be sold by Auction, January 18th, 1881, at Richmond, VA. (Richmond: John E. Laughton, Jr., 1881), 65 "645. Grotius (H.). The Rights of War and Peace, with notes of J. Barbeyrac. Folio. London: 1738. Armorial book plate of George Wythe."
