Edward Earl of Clarendon,
The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, begun in the year 1641. With the precedent Passages, and Actions, that contributed thereunto, and the Happy End, and Conclusion thereof by the King’s blessed Restoration, and Return upon the 29th of May, in the Year 1660. Written by the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Clarendon, Late Lord High Chancellour of England, Privy Counsellour in the Reigns of King Charles the First and the Second.
Oxford: Printed at the Theater. An Dom. MDCCII
Offered is a Large Paper (LP) unrestored copy of the First Edition of Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion, together with The Life of Clarendon, printed at Oxford in four large folio volumes in 1702, 1703, 1704, and 1759, decorated with four portraits of the author and numerous headpieces, initials and tail-pieces. Volume One, in an early pre-production state.
$4,250.00
Offered is a Large Paper (LP) unrestored copy of the First Edition of Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion, together with The Life of Clarendon, printed at Oxford in four large folio volumes in 1702, 1703, 1704, and 1759, decorated with four portraits of the author and numerous headpieces, initials and tail-pieces. Volume One, in an early pre-production state.
Offered is a Large Paper (LP) unrestored copy of the First Edition of Clarendon’s History of the Rebellion, together with The Life of Clarendon, printed at Oxford in four large folio volumes in 1702, 1703, 1704, and 1759, decorated with four portraits of the author and numerous headpieces, initials and tail-pieces. Volume One, in an early pre-production state.
The volume(s) measure about 45.3 - 46.8 cm. by 30.5 - 31 cm. by 5 cm.
Each leaf measures about 442 - 455 mm. by 285 - 290 mm.
- Main description
- Condition
- Biography / Bibliography
Main description
The full title of Clarendon’s ‘History of the Rebellion’ reads as follows:
“The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, begun in the year 1641. With the precedent Passages, and Actions, that contributed thereunto, and the Happy End, and Conclusion thereof by the King’s blessed Restoration, and Return upon the 29th of May, in the Year 1660. Written by the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Clarendon, Late Lord High Chancellour of England, Privy Counsellour in the Reigns of King Charles the First and the Second. Volume the first [second, third]. / Oxford: / printed at the Theater. An Dom. MDCCII [1702] [MDCCIII, 1703, MDCCIV, 1704]”
The full title of Clarendon’s ‘Life’ reads as follows:
“The Life of Edward Earl of Clarendon, Lord High Chancellor of England, and Chancellor of the University of Oxford. Containing, I. An Account of the Chancellor’s Life from his Birth to the Restoration in 1660. II. A Continuation of the same, and of his History of the Grand Rebellion, from the Restoration to his Banishment in 1667. Written by himself. Printed from his original manuscripts, given to the University of Oxford, by the Heirs of the late Earl of Clarendon. / Oxford: At the Clarendon Printing-House, M.DCC.LIX. [1759]”
Complete; Vol I; (6), xxiii, 557; Vol II; (16), 581; Vol III; (24), 603, 21. Vol IV; (6), lv, 133, (2), 523, (xi).
An unusual set, perhaps unique. Volume One appears to be a pre-production copy, as the engravings are in the earliest state of impressions with the tail piece for Book One in an unfinished state and the tail piece for Book Five, a lady with two torches (later replaced with a bust). Notes to the first endpaper indicate that the British Library does not own a copy with unfinished engravings.
Condition
All four volumes bound in contemporary calf, the spines in 7 gilt stamped compartments with six raised bands. Wear to boards and spine. All hinges cracked and holding by the cords. One cord broken on Volume Three. Label missing on Volume Four and partially missing on Volume One.
The set is in very good condition internally and retains the original numerous endpapers. Generally, the pages are clean and bright, and the print is clear and crisp throughout. Minor worming to the edge of Vol. 1 and Vol 3 and 4 with some water staining. All the engravings with deep dark impressions with no wear.
Each volume while bound as a set differs in size, with the book block of Vol 1 and 3 at 445 x 290 mm and Vol 2 and 4 at 455 x 290 mm. Please see the slideshow for additional photographs of the binding and contents. Additional postage on this set overseas, calculated on request.
Biography / Bibliography
The Dictionary of National Biography calls Clarendon’s “the most sophisticated and finely balanced history yet written in English.” The sale of this first edition was instrumental in raising the funds necessary to build the Clarendon building at Oxford.
Clarendon (1609 – 1674) was one of the pre-eminent figures of the Civil War and Restoration years in England. Beginning a moderate critic of the King, he served in both the Short and Long Parliaments; between 1641 and 1645, however, he was one of the closest advisors to King Charles I. His moderation served to alienate him from both the Parliamentarians and the King, and from 1645 he had been assigned to the council of advisors to the Prince of Wales (the future King Charles II). From 1648 until the Restoration, Clarendon was in France with Charles II, and between 1658 and 1660 he was one of the central figures in brining about the Restoration. He was made Earl in 1661 and served as Lord Chancellor until 1667, during which time he also served as Chancellor of the University of Oxford. Having fallen out of favour and under threat of impeachment, Clarendon fled to France in 1667, where he spent the last years of his life and completed the great “History of the Rebellion,” the first edition of which is here being sold.
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