The Itinerary of John Leland The Antiquary

Third edition. Nine Volumes in Five. 8vo., bound in full tooled calf (240 x 145mm), engraved frontispiece, engraved plates and illustrations. Printed from Mr Hearne's corrected copy in the Bodleian Library. Printed at the Theatre; For James Fletcher, in the Turl, and Joseph Pote, at Eton College, 1770.

A little rubbing to the corners of the bindings, two small black marks to the spine of one volume, occasional minor browning. A very good copy.

These volumes have an interesting provenance containing two notable bookplates; William Garnett, Esq. (1818-1873) of Bleasdale and Quernmore Park, Co. Lancaster, and George Ormerod, LL. D, DCL, F.R.S. & F.S.A. (1785-1873) of Sedbury Park, Gloucestershire.

The Latin inscription of William Garnett's armorial bookplate reads "Diligentia et Honore". William Garnett was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Lancaster in 1857. He resigned his seat in 1864, thus becoming steward of the Manor of Northstead. (Oxford DNB.)

The Latin inscription of George Ormerod's armorial bookplate reads "Dedit Meliora Dabitque." George Ormerod was a noted antiquarian and historian. Published in 1819, "The History of the county Palatine and City of Chester", is regarded by Book Historians as his major work. He was appointed Fellow, Royal Society (F.R.S.) in Febuary 1819. (Oxford DNB.)

In this work, John Leland (circa 1503-1552) provides a wonderful insight into England and Wales during the Tudor period through a series of topographical notes. Often referred to by historians as ""the father of English local history and bibliography", Leland is notable for "establishing the county as the basic unit for studying the local history of England, an idea that has been influential ever since." (A.L. Clarke, John Leland and King Henry VIII, The Library, 3rd ser. vol. 2, pp. 132–49.)

Educated at Oxford, Cambridge, and Paris, Leland received the patronage and support of both Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell. Leland acted as Chaplain to King Henry VIII and was allowed by the King to visit all religious houses libraries prior to their dissolution. He was subsequently permitted to utilise the library of the Bury St Edmunds Monastery. The works Leland discovered and studied, combined with his personal travel experiences, resulted in a lifetime fascination with English and Welsh topography. (Carley 2006, Leland, John ca. 1503–1552.)

In 1533, Leland received papal dispensation for four benefices, conditional on him being accepted as a Sub-Deacon within two years and a Priest within seven years. In 1533, Leland was appointed prebendary of Wilton Abbey and obtained two adjacent benefices. (Carley and Petitmengin, Pre-Conquest manuscripts from Malmesbury Abbey, p. 197.)

Leland travelled extensively around Britain, recording his numerous observations and experiences in a series of notebooks. For example, in his Itinerary, Leland referred to Hampton Court Palace as "a goodly Mannour Place… sumptuously erected." Whilst Leland's Itineraries were not published until the 18th century, historians observe that they were utilised by other great travel writers, for example, providing source material for Camden's Britannia, published in 1586. (Harris, Oliver, 2005. "'Motheaten, Mouldye, and Rotten': the Early Custodial History and Dissemination of John Leland's Manuscript Remains". Bodleian Library Record.)

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