Descrizione

Five books in one volume. A VERY RARE COMPLETE COPY, the First Edition of Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum translated into English. Provenance: Montanus, 1602 -- Sir Roger Twysden, 1648, and Sir John Saunders Sebright (armorial bookplate). With woodcut device on titlepage, woodcut armorial dedication to Queen Elizabeth, woodcut plate of St. Augustin with Elbert King of Kent in anno 596, woodcut plate of King Oswald uniting the Umbrian kingdoms, halfpage woodcut of Elbert building St. Paul's, and with many large and handsome woodcut initials all throughout. The woodcuts are possibly by Arnaud Nicolai. Small 4to (188 x 140 mm), in antique three-quarter russia over marbled boards, the spine with raised bands ruled in gilt, one compartment gilt lettered, gilt dating at the tail, gilt lined back and cornerpieces. *1-6, >1-4, #1-4, 192, [9] pp. A truly excellent survival of a book rarely found complete. The text-block is especially fresh and well preserved, crisp and very clean. The blanks date from the time of the binding, but the text is otherwise wholly complete and original, the binding is handsome though its age is evident and there was restoration some time ago to the hinges, the front of which is also strengthened from within.