[Camden, William] | First edition in English of the True and Royall History of the Famous Empresse Elizabeth

From the Library of Clayre and Jay Michael Haft

[Camden, William]

Annales: The True and Royall History of the Famous Empresse Elizabeth, Queene of England France and Ireland &C... Wherein all Such Memorable Things as Happened During Her Blessed Raigne... Translated from the French by Abraham Darcie. London: Benjamin Fisher, 1625

3 parts in one, 4to (216 x 162 mm). Fine engraved title-page and frontispiece portrait of Elizabeth by Robert Vaughan (Johnson 55), woodcut initials and headpieces; title and frontispiece trimmed closely and touching images, frontispiece with repairs at gutter affecting letters, associated tear on title with small area in pen facsimile, marginal tear on L1, some light browning and a few small repairs. Late 17th- or early 18th-century English blind ruled calf, later morocco lettering-piece on spine; endpapers renewed, some wear to joints and corners.

First edition in English of the first three books of Camden’s Annales, later state of the title without the name of the translator William Darcie. The handsome frontispiece portrait and engraved title are followed by preliminaries with graphically innovative typesetting.

REFERENCE:

Graesse II, 25; STC 4497; ESTC S107372

PROVENANCE:

W.G.L.P.(?) Crawley (early signature on A1)