Sir Walter Ralegh, or Raleigh. The History of the World, in Five Books. The First, Intreating of the Beginning and first Ages of the same, from the Creation unto Abraham. The Second, Of the Times from the Birth of Abraham to the destruction of the Temple of Solomon. The Third, From the destruction of Jerusalem to the time of Philip of Macedon. The Fourth, From the Reign of Philip of Macedon, to the establishing of that Kingdom in the Race of Antigonus. The Fifth, From the settled Rule of Alexander's Successours in the East, until the Romans (prevailing over all) made Conquest of Asia and Macedon. By Sir Wlter Ralegh, Knight. London: Printed for Robert White, T. Basset, J. Wright, R. Chiswell, G. Dawes and T. Sawbridge, 1677. Folio (14.625 x 9.375 inches; 372 x 240 mm.). [2, "The Mind of the Front" (recto blank)], [2 title (verso blank)], 54 [i.e. 48, "The life of Sir Walter Raleigh"], [21, "The Preface"], [1, blank], [21, "The Contents"], [1, blank], 376, 393-480, 569-660, 577-708, 737-885, [1, blank], [2, "To the Reader"], [26, "A Chronological Table"], [18, "An Alphabetical Table"] pages. Text continuous despite pagination. Title-page printed in red and black. Added engraved title, dated 1676, signed: "Ren: Elstrack sculpsit" (Renald Elstrack); engraved frontispiece portrait of author, signed "Sim. Pass sculp." (Simon van de Pass) and "Comp. Holland inv." (Compton Holland); six folding engraved maps; two folding engraved battle plans; and three woodcut genealogical tables in the text (pages 54, 260, and on *4 verso in "The Chronological Table").
Contemporary calf, neatly rebacked, with original spine laid down. Covers panelled in blind with floral corner ornaments incorporating the initials: I O W. Spine ruled and decoratively tooled in blind with five raised bands, dark leather label (partially lost) ruled and lettered in gilt, and with the date 1677 in gilt; board edges decoratively tooled in blind; edges stained red. Binding worn, with some surface loss on front cover; boards exposed at corners. Hinges reinforced with cloth tape. Endpapers browned at the edges from leather turn-ins. Lacking front free endpaper. The first three leaves browned and worn at the edges, with a small piece torn from outer margin of "The Mind of the Front" leaf, and with a vertical crease to the frontispiece portrait and title. Three-inch tear in the lower gutter margin of F3 in "The Contents of the Chapters;" a few additional short marginal tears or paper flaws. Small hole in the text on G2 (pages 51/52), with loss of a few letters; Iiii3 (pages 621/622), affecting a few letters; a few additional small holes. Intermittent marginal dampstaining or smudging; a few small stains. Large oval crease to the last six gatherings. A very good copy. Booklabel on front pastedown: "To Robert R. Sprague / Christmas 1954. / [flourish] / From Frank C. Mortimer." Early ink inscription at head of "The Life of Sir Walter Raleigh": "To Lieut. George [illegible]." Loosely laid in is a sheet with Bank of the Valley in Virginia One Dollar and Two Dollars Bills, uncut, verso blank.
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