An early hardcover printing of Marvin E. Frankel’s Criminal Sentences: Law Without Order, published by Hill and Wang, New York, in 1973.
Written from the perspective of a federal judge, this work examines judicial discretion, unequal criminal sentences, and the need for a more consistent approach to punishment. Its subject matter makes it relevant to readers interested in criminal justice, sentencing reform, legal history, and public policy.
Edition and publication details
Dust jacket
The jacket features a cream background with brown borders, black lettering, and a gray courthouse illustration. The rear panel features a black-and-white portrait of the author.
Condition
The dust jacket shows rubbing, edge and corner wear, small chips/nicks, short tears, and age-related toning and light soiling. The photographed interior pages show toning.
A handwritten name in blue ink, dated 1973, appears on the front endpaper. The handwriting has not been independently identified or authenticated, and no author-signature claim is being made.
This book was purchased at the estate sale of Dr. Stephan Michelson as part of the acquisition of his personal library collection.
Dr. Michelson was a Stanford-trained economist, Harvard researcher, econometrician, and litigation-support consultant. His career focused heavily on applying statistical and economic analysis to legal disputes, including important civil-rights litigation. He later wrote The Expert: The Statistical Analyst in Litigation. Biographical reference: The Washington Post obituary
This book’s examination of criminal sentencing, judicial decision-making, and disparities in punishment is thematically relevant to Michelson’s professional work and the scholarly focus of his library. No claim is made that he used this individual volume in a particular case.
This volume contains a handwritten name dated 1973. The writing has not been independently authenticated as Michelson’s or Frankel’s. The provenance is based on its purchase as part of the estate-library collection, not on attribution of the handwritten name.
An appealing copy for readers and collectors of American legal history, criminal justice scholarship, sentencing reform literature, and first-printing nonfiction.
Please review the photographs, which show the actual book offered.
Use the applicable fields available in your selected category. Additional supported details can be entered as custom specifics.
| Item specific | Value |
|---|---|
| Book Title | Criminal Sentences: Law Without Order |
| Author | Marvin E. Frankel |
| Publisher | Hill and Wang |
| Publication Year | 1973 |
| Edition | First Printing |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Language | English |
| Original Language | English |
| Fiction/Nonfiction | Nonfiction |
| Genre | Law; Social Science |
| Topic | Criminal Sentencing; Criminal Justice; Judicial Discretion; Sentencing Reform |
| Subject | Law & Government |
| Geographic Subject | United States |
| Intended Audience | Adults |
| Vintage | Yes |
| Era | 1970s |
| Features | Dust Jacket; First Printing |
| Dust Jacket | Yes |
| ISBN-10 | 0809037092 |
| ISBN-13 | 9780809037094 |
| Number of Pages | 124 numbered pages, plus preliminary pages |
| Country of Manufacture | United States |
| Place of Publication | New York |
| Copyright Dates | 1972, 1973 |
| Printing Statement | First printing, 1973 |
| Number Line | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 |
| Library of Congress Catalog Card Number | 72-95111 |
| Ownership Writing | Handwritten name dated 1973 on front endpaper |
| Author Signature | Not verified; not offered as author-signed |
| Provenance | Stephan Michelson Estate Library |
| Provenance Basis | Seller-reported estate-library acquisition |
| Jacket Colors | Cream, Brown, Gray, Black |
| Quantity | 1 book |
The ISBN-13 is the catalog equivalent of the ISBN-10 printed in your book. Bibliographic listings support 124 numbered pages plus preliminary matter. ISBN reference, Pagination reference
Leave these unfilled until checked: dimensions, weight, additional annotations, ex-library status, and jacket price-clipping. No UPC is visible; use the ISBN rather than inventing a separate UPC. For the “Signed” field, leave it unspecified if possible until the handwriting is identified.
Is this a first printing?
Yes. The copyright page states “First printing, 1973,” and the number line begins with 1.
Does it include the dust jacket?
Yes. The jacket is present and shows wear, including small chips/nicks and short tears.
Is it signed by Marvin E. Frankel?
There is a handwritten name dated 1973, but its writer has not been authenticated. It is not being sold as author-signed.
How is the Michelson provenance established?
Through the seller’s purchase of the book as part of the personal library collection at Dr. Stephan Michelson’s estate sale.
Is it free of writing?
No. The front endpaper contains the photographed handwritten name and date.
Criminal Sentences, Law Without Order, Marvin E Frankel, 1973 first printing, Hill and Wang, hardcover dust jacket, sentencing reform, judicial discretion, criminal justice, American legal history, Stephan Michelson Estate Library.
Suggested eBay condition: Good, subject to checking the binding and remaining pages.
The photographs show: