The History of Negotiable Instruments in English Law

Out of Print

In the present volume (the third of the 'University of London Legal Series'), Dr. Holden has endeavoured to repair the neglect which the history of negotiable instruments in England has undoubtedly suffered.

Whilst dealing with negotiable instruments of all types, he devotes principal attention to bills of exchange, cheques and bank notes, the development of which he traces from their earliest use in this country down to the present day.

The author believes that insufficient attention has hitherto been paid to the work of Chief Justice Holt in this field, and claims that Holt 'deserves almost as honoured a place in the history of commercial law as Lord Mansfield.'

In his discussion of negotiable instruments at the present day, Dr. Holden (who was formerly on the staff of one of the joint-stock banks) puts forward a number of suggestions for the reform of the law relating to cheques.

He has been able to examine early notes and cheques in the possession of the Institute of Bankers, the Bank of England and other banks, and several of these documents are reproduced here for the first time.