The History of the World, in Five Books. Whereunto is added in this Edition, the Life and Tryal of the Author.

London:: Tho. Basset, Ric. Chiswell, Benj. Tooke, et al.,, 1687.. Reprint.. Hardcover. Very Good indeed. The poem, 'The Mind of the Front' is present and precedes the frontis and title page, which are followed by the Preface xxxii, and the Contents 24pp. // Then follows 'The Life of the Valiant and Noble Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight. With his Tryal at Winchester'; printed for George Dawes et al, Third Edition, 1687, and consisting of the portrait frontis, the title page, and the 41pp of text. // These are followed by the 813pp of the main work; [2]pp 'To the Reader'; [26]pp Chronological Table; and [16]pp Alphabetical Table of Contents. This volume, mighty as it is, written while Raleigh was imprisoned in the Tower of London, 'using a wide array of sources in six languages' (Wikipedia), and first published in 1614, takes us up only to the Roman era: it was conceived as being but the 'First Part' - another two projected volumes were never written. // Included in the main work are 2 genealogical diagrams, plus 6 double-page maps, and 2 double-page battle plans. The contents are in very good order: after a little light soiling to the pages preceding the Preface, and a lightly pencilled early 19thC ownership note to the back of the frontis, text and plates are fresh and bright thoughout, pages slightly cockled, with 1cm singe spots at perhaps half a dozen openings: no foxing or tanning or damage to pages. Not entirely perfect, though: there is a severe and ancient brown ink stain at the opening p.10/11, principally affecting the inner margin, rendering some of p.10 hard to decipher, and with some slight staining to the adjacent openings pp8/9 and pp12/13. And that's about it. // Folio, c.37x23.5cms, in a new geometrically-decorated half binding of brown calf, using the original firm but very scuffed and patinised marbled boards, refurbished, and with the original spine label laid down. A splendid and fully functioning copy.

[EXTRA Heavy Item]