Along with those of Black and Anderson, Ballentine's is one of the most important American dictionaries of the modern era. Originally published: Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, [1916]. [vi], 632 pp. Reprint of the uncommon first edition. Containing over 18,000 entries and a 97-page index of American and English law and equity reports, it is renowned for its concision and accuracy. Immediately popular, it went through three editions by 1969 and served as the basis of Ballentine's College Law Dictionary (first edition, 1931) and the Self-Pronouncing Law Dictionary (1948). The 1916 edition retains its value as a handy but thorough one-volume reference.

JAMES A. BALLENTINE was Assistant Professor of Law at the University of California and Dean of the San Francisco Law School.