Hyde v Wrench [1840] EWHC Ch J90 is a leading English contract law case on the issue of counter-offers and their relation to initial offers.
It contains Lord Langdale's ruling that any counter-offer cancels the original offer.
[2] On the 29th Hyde agreed to buy the farm for £1000 without any additional agreement from Wrench, and after Wrench refused to sell the farm to him he sued for breach of contract.
[2] Lord Langdale's judgment read: Under the circumstances stated in this bill, I think there exists no valid binding contract between the parties for the purchase of this property.
I think that it was not afterwards competent for him to revive the proposal of the defendant, by tendering an acceptance of it; and that, therefore, there exists no obligation of any sort between the parties.