By Patrick Colquhoun
London   Joseph Mawman
9" by 5.5" 7], ii-xxxiv, [1], 2-593, [3], 609-676, [20pp]
The first edition of Patrick Colquhoun's influential and important work on his findings operating a successful police force on the River Thames in London. Illustrated with a folding map to the frontispiece.
By Patrick Colquhoun

1800 A Treatise on the Commerce and Police of the River Thames: Containing an Historical View of the Trade of the Port of London; and Suggesting Means for Preserving the Depredations Thereon, by a Legislative System of River Police. With an Account of the Functions of the Various Magistrates and Corporations Exercising Jurisdiction on the River; and a General View of the Penal and Remedial Statues Connected with the Subject

London   Joseph Mawman
9" by 5.5" 7], ii-xxxiv, [1], 2-593, [3], 609-676, [20pp]
The first edition of Patrick Colquhoun's influential and important work on his findings operating a successful police force on the River Thames in London. Illustrated with a folding map to the frontispiece.
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: 1.5kgs / : 653P27

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Description

First Edition, Folding Maps, Illustrated, Leather Binding, Rebound

The first edition of this work. A scarce work. Collated, complete. A treatise discussing the Thames River Police, also known as the Marine Police Force. The Thames River Police was founded by Patrick Colquhoun and John Harriott in 1798, and is possibly England's oldest police force; at this time, there were no government run police forces, and all police were arranged by the community. This police force was created to try and tackle theft and looting from the ships anchored on the docks of the Thames. After figuring out that merchants were losing around £500,000 of stolen cargo a year on the Pool of London on the Thames, Colquhoun and Harriott devised a plan to create this police force to operate on the river. This work shows the findings of the men and their police force, after operating successfully for a couple of years. Though it was a success, there was a mob who tried to burn down the police officer whilst the police were inside. This work is important, as it shows the development of the modern police force. It was popular and influential upon its publication, and inspired similar attempts of police forces in other cities, such as New York, Dublin, and Sydney. With a folding map to the frontispiece, showing the Port London and the River Thames from London Bridge to Sheerness. With two folding tables. Written by Patrick Colquhoun. Colquhoun was a Scottish merchant, and was the founder of the first regular preventive police in England, the Thames River Police. The Thames River Police, also known as the Marine Police Force, was founded in 1798, aiming to tackle heft and looting from ships anchored in the docks of the Thames. This work is an octavo. The first two leaves have no signature. Signatures run from a-b8, c1, B-Z8, AA-PP8, Q1, RR-UU8, XX2, a8, b2. Though the signatures do not run chronologically, no pages are lacking, as collated from ESTC under the citation numbers T140607. This impression has a colophon on page 676 bearing Baldwin's name, and the name and address of the printers are in square brackets. Prior owner's ink inscription to the head of the title page. The first edition of an influential work on modern policing.

Condition

Rebound in a quarter calf binding with paper to the boards. Externally, smart. Light rubbing to the boards. A little fading to the spine. Minor bumping to the extremities. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned with the odd scattered spot. Prior owner's ink inscription to the head of the title page. Frontispiece with light edgewear, resulting in a couple of small chips. Spots to the frontispiece.

Very Good Indeed

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