scarce in commerce
STOW, John.
A survay of London. Contayning the originall, antiquity, increase, moderne estate, and description of that citie, written in the yeare 1598 by John Stow citizen of London. Also an apologie (or defence) against the opinion of some men, concerning that citie, the greatnesse thereof. With an appendix, containing in Latine, Libellum de situ & nobilitate Londini: written by William Fitzstephen, in the raigne of Henry the second.
London, Imprinted by [John Windet for] John Wolfe, printer to the honorable Citie of London: and are to be sold at his shop within the Popes head Alley in Lombard street, 1598.
The Survay begins with a discussion of the antiquity of the city. After treating of major features, London Bridge, the Thames, the city wall, towers, castles and gates, he processes through the metropolis by wards. He also describes the ancient sports and games of London as well as parish churches, hospitals and leper houses. The work provides 'an exhaustive and invaluable record of Elizabethan London' (ODNB).
John Stow (d.1605), chronicler and antiquary, formed a considerable collection of documents, charters and manuscripts relating to English history and was part of the first flowering of antiquarianism in the circle that included Camden, Lambard and Fleetwood. This was to be 'his last great publication... embodying a lifetime of loving observation and research in his native city... Stow was obviously a most important figure in the story of Elizabethan historical publishing, and the continued reprints of his work reflect this' (Bennett, English Books and Readers, p.217).
The work 'contains much matter of great interest and value and is worthy to rank with the topographical works of Lambard and Carew as one of the foundations of English county history' (Pforzheimer). Pforzhemier speculates that the gap in the pagination toward the end of the work may indicate a different ending was originally intended, perhaps without the apologie.
First edition, second issue; 4to (19.5 x 15 cm); errata to verso of 2H10 and lattice device to recto, printer's device to title, ownership inscription in pen to upper margin, occasional pen annotations to margins, small paper flaw to lower corner of P1 and last 2ff of text, moderate toning; modern blind-tooled calf, spine lettered in gilt, very good; [8], 450, 467-480, 465-483, [1]pp.
ESTC S117887; Pforzheimer 992.
Stock code 119864
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A survay of London.
MALVEZZI, Virgilio; MONMOUTH, Henry Carey (Earl of).
[Romulus and Tarquin].
1637.
The first edition in English of Virgilio Malvezzi's histories of the legendary Roman kings Romulus and Tarquin, translated by Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth
£1,500.00
THUCYDIDES; HOBBES, Thomas (translator).
History of the Grecian War:
1676.
The final lifetime edition of Thomas Hobbes's English-language translation of Thucydides History of the Grecian War
£3,500.00
SARPI, Paolo; BROWN, Edward (translator).
The Letters of the Renowned Father Paul,
1693.
The first edition in English of the collected letters of Paolo Sarpi, translated out of the Italian by Edward Brown
£800.00
TROTSKY, Leon.
Stalin
1947.
The first UK edition of Leon Trotsky's biography of Joseph Stalin
£550.00
