Antiquities of Warwickshire

The full title reads as follows:

The Antiquities of Warwickshire Illustrated; from Records, Leiger-books, Manuscripts, Charters, Evidences, Tombes, and Armes: Beautified With Maps, Prospect and Portraicture / By William Dugdale. / … / / London, Printed by Thomas Warren, in the year of our Lord God, M. DC. LVI. [1656]”

The Volume is Complete in All Respects With 16 Plates (9 double page engraved maps on 7 sheets, 7 double page engraved plates), and many illustrations throughout with an extra copy of leaf 2M1 inserted loose after the bound leaf.

The volume is paginated as follows: [xvi], 232, 283-460, 471-732, 743, 724-826, [xvi].

The volume collates as follows: a-b4, A-5E4, 5F2, 5G4, [Χ]1.

ESTC Citation # R4379

The volume measures about 36 cm. By 24.5 cm. By 6 cm. Each leaf measures about 345 mm. By 225 mm.

Provenance: Bookplate on the Front paste-down of John Peachey Esq. 1782., Probably the 2nd Baron Selsey before inheriting the title in 1808. This aligns with the diced calf binding in terms of age.

Also, on an initial blank are several inscriptions, firstly the name John Throgmorton Middlemore [1st Baronet,] an early twentieth century politician. Other inscriptions note the volume collates perfect, and has been re-backed in the 20th century, (likely by the Hon. John Middlemore) with remarks on this volume’s avoidance of the Great Fire of London, which destroyed many copies. (see slideshow).

The Volume is in Very Good condition re-backed, retaining gilt-ruled diced English calf, with the spine divided into six gilt stamped compartments by five gilt bands, with a letter-piece in the second compartment from the top, with the board and leaf edges gilt. Externally the boards and spine are lightly scuffed in general, with the board corners bumped a bit, as well as some bumps at the board edges, with chipping to the head or tail of the spine repaired, and with the newer hinges showing some wear. Internally the leaves are generally clean and amply margined, with a small wormhole in the outer margin, more noticeable later in the volume, with general mild toning throughout, some occasional fox marks, and with some good early impressions of the plates.

Please take the time necessary to review the slideshow in order to gain a better understanding of the content and condition of the volume.

Of the Antiquities of Warwickshire

A Native of Warwickshire, William Dugdale took to antiquarian studies in his twenties, shortly after the death of his father. Coming into contact with numerous notables in the field, such as William Burton, Sir Thomas Habington, and Symon Archer, and with the latter began work on the History of Warwickshire. Gaining the patronage of Sir Christopher Hatton, Dugdale became pursuivant of arms extraordinary, and found the freedom to research various historical subjects. As the political climate in England changed, and relations between King and Parliament worsened, Hatton requested Dugdale focus on recording the architecture and monuments of Westminster and other significant churches, for fear of despoliation in the coming conflict. As a member of the college of Arms, Dugdale was a defacto Royalist, and was summoned to attend the King at York with other heralds, and he would witness the battle of Edgehill, and later return with a surveyor to make an accurate account of the battle. During the interregnum, Dugdale worked on his Monasticon Anglicanum, a record of the abbeys and monasteries of England, as well as his Antiquities of Warwickshire.

The Antiquities of Warwickshire is by no means the first county history, pre-empted by William Lambarde’s Perambulation of Kent, published in 1576, however it did set a pattern of systematic examination of the families, heraldry, monuments and events important to local history. It is also significant as one of the first sources to cite Stratford-upon Avon as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, and contains an excellent plate depicting the great playwright’s tomb.

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