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Pre-owned antique. Please read complete description and examine all photographs.Rare 1895 New York Justice's Criminal Docket
Offered is an original Justice's Criminal Docket, published in 1895 by the Williamson Law Book Company of Rochester, New York. This handsome large-format court ledger is beautifully bound in leather with gilt decoration and contains 12 original handwritten criminal case records beginning in 1896.
Unlike many surviving legal ledgers that are either completely blank or heavily worn, this volume contains early handwritten proceedings while retaining numerous unused pages, making it an exceptional display piece as well as a valuable historical document.
Historical Significance
Justice of the Peace dockets served as the official permanent record of local criminal proceedings in New York during the late 19th century.
This volume documents cases heard in:
Franklin County, New York
The opening pages identify the Justice of the Peace as:
George W. Parker
Among the early cases recorded are charges including:
- Disorderly and offensive language
- Assault and battery
The handwritten entries include names of defendants, complainants, case dispositions, and notes regarding settlements and dismissals, providing a fascinating glimpse into everyday rural life and local justice in the 1890s.
- Original 1895 publication
- Williamson Law Book Company
- Rochester, New York
- Large folio size
- Genuine leather binding
- Decorative gilt tooling
Outstanding 1895 New York Justice's Criminal Docket – Franklin County – Original Handwritten Court Records
This is not simply an antique blank ledger—it is an authentic 19th-century court record documenting the administration of justice in rural New York over 130 years ago.
The book retains its beautiful original leather binding with decorative gilt accents and contains handwritten criminal cases from the late Victorian era, followed by many unused pages.
The earliest cases date to April 1896 and include charges such as:
- Disorderly and Offensive Language
- Assault and Battery
One case records that the dispute was settled after the defendant paid court costs and the complainant withdrew the complaint. Another notes that the prosecution failed to appear and the defendant was discharged.
These handwritten entries provide a fascinating glimpse into everyday life and local justice in late nineteenth-century New York.
This large-format docket ( 14 x 9 x 1.5) features:
- Original leather binding
- Decorative gilt borders
- Leather spine label with gilt lettering
- Heavy archival-quality paper
- Printed court forms
- Handwritten court proceedings
- Numerous unused pages remaining
- Original endpapers
A striking display piece for any library or collection.
Condition
Very good antique condition considering its age.
- Binding remains solid.
- Leather shows attractive age-related patina and wear consistent with over 130 years of careful use.
- Interior pages are clean with light age toning.
- Handwritten entries are easily visible.
- Numerous blank pages remain for reference to the original printed format.
- Please review all photographs carefully as they are part of the description.
Collector Appeal
An outstanding addition for collectors of:
- Americana
- New York history
- Antique legal books
- Justice of the Peace memorabilia
- Court records
- Genealogy
- Historical manuscripts
- Leather-bound books
- Franklin County history
- Museum-quality paper collectibles
Original local court records from the 1890s are becoming increasingly difficult to locate, especially in such an attractive leather-bound volume.
Published: 1895
Earliest recorded entries: 1896
This historic volume will be carefully packed and shipped fully insured.
Seller's Note:
This is one of the most interesting legal ledgers I've had the opportunity to offer. Rather than being a simple blank ledger, it preserves authentic handwritten criminal proceedings from Franklin County, New York, beginning in 1896. The combination of historical content, handsome leather binding, and surviving unused pages makes it an exceptional artifact of late 19th-century American legal history.
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