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DUGDALE, William : The Antiquities of Warwickshire Illustrated; From Records, Leiger-Books, Manuscripts, Charters, Evidences, Tombes, and Armes: Beautified With Maps, Prospects and Portraictures

Quarto (350 x 230 mm.), eighteenth century full calf, rebacked spine with gilt and blind ruling, gilt calf labels affixed. Portrait cut and laid down, title in red and black ink laid down and worn, with 63 plates, of which 17 are double-page views and maps (7 maps). In addition, illustrated with 183 engravings in the text, one further leaf of text laid down, (16), 826 (with several errors see Upcott), (14) pp. Including the plates at pp. 58 & 383 often found lacking. Coventry laid down.

This is the earliest and one of the best English county histories. It is the work of Sir William Dugdale (1605-86) who spent upwards of twenty years researching the book. Gough states "it must stand at the head and shoulders of all our county histories". The work is also notable for providing a large number of plates by the famous contemporary engraver Wenceslaus Hollar including one on page 520 of Shakespeare's monument. In preparation Dugdale traversed every inch of Warwickshire. The book describes each hundred. There is also a considerable amount of information about the pedigrees of the counties notable families, accounts of the places in the county and religious information. They are noted for the remarkable accuracy, and unusually are sourced to other authorities. Provenance: with manuscript ownership inscription of W. M. Tate-Stoate May 1903; invoice of sale to Mr & Mrs George A. Steane 8 June 1936 for £8 8s; private English collection. ESTC R4379; Lowndes (1864) III:687; Upcott (1968) 1247-59; Wing (1945-51) D2479.

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