Details
FULLER, Thomas. The History of the Worthies of England. London: Printed by J.G[rismond] W.L. and W[illiam] G[odbid], 1662.
2o (330 x 214 mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece by D. Loggan (tear patched and gutter margin reinforced on recto). (Some minor browning and staining, small hole on P1 touching a letter, tear on Ppp2 crossing text patched on lower blank margin.) Contemporary blind-panelled calf (rebacked, some wear to corners). Provenance: Early marginal annotation on Zz3v (initialled "W.B.") and Eee2r -- W.G. (initials on upper margin of title dated 1717) -- illegible circular stamp on final leaf of text -- Horace J. Bridges, scholar and leader of the Ethical Society (signature on frone free endpaper dated 1940) -- purchased April 1969.
FIRST EDITION of Fuller's encyclopedic work which comprises among other things a dictionary of national biography, a series of county histories, a topographic and historical gazetteer, and a collection of proverbs. It is organized by county in England and Wales, and is as rich in anecdote as information. The Worthies contains the first biography of Shakespeare: "...though his Genius generally was jocular, and inclining him to festivity, yet he could (when so disposed) be solemn and serious, as appears by his Tragedies..." (Qqq3v). Bartlett 378; Gibson XXXIII(1); Grolier Wither to Prior 390; Wing F2440.
2o (330 x 214 mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece by D. Loggan (tear patched and gutter margin reinforced on recto). (Some minor browning and staining, small hole on P1 touching a letter, tear on Ppp2 crossing text patched on lower blank margin.) Contemporary blind-panelled calf (rebacked, some wear to corners). Provenance: Early marginal annotation on Zz3v (initialled "W.B.") and Eee2r -- W.G. (initials on upper margin of title dated 1717) -- illegible circular stamp on final leaf of text -- Horace J. Bridges, scholar and leader of the Ethical Society (signature on frone free endpaper dated 1940) -- purchased April 1969.
FIRST EDITION of Fuller's encyclopedic work which comprises among other things a dictionary of national biography, a series of county histories, a topographic and historical gazetteer, and a collection of proverbs. It is organized by county in England and Wales, and is as rich in anecdote as information. The Worthies contains the first biography of Shakespeare: "...though his Genius generally was jocular, and inclining him to festivity, yet he could (when so disposed) be solemn and serious, as appears by his Tragedies..." (Qqq3v). Bartlett 378; Gibson XXXIII(1); Grolier Wither to Prior 390; Wing F2440.