Stevenson, Jaques, & Co v McLean [1880] 5 QBD 346 is an English contract law case concerning the rules on communication of acceptance by telegraph.
Stevenson subsequently sued McLean for non-delivery of iron warrants alleging breach of contract.
The main issues were: Lush J held the plaintiff's telegram at 9.42am was not a rejection of the offer but a mere inquiry about whether the terms could be modified.
The correct principle is that a unilateral promise to hold open an offer is not binding upon the person who made it and can be revoked prior to its acceptance.
However, a revocation has no effect until it is actually communicated to the person to whom the original offer was made [per Lush J at 352] relying upon the American decisions in Tayloe v Merchant's Fire Insurance Co How.