Author: John Hughes (Ed); White Kennet (Ed).
Title: A Complete History of England with the Lives of All the Kings and Queens Thereof from the Earliest Account of Time to the Death of His Late Majesty King William III
Description: London, Brab, Aylmer et al, 1706. First edition. Leather. An early, illustrated look at the history of England through the reigns of its monarchs. Collaboratively written by many noted names of the period includingJohn Milton, Samuel Daniell and Sir John Hayward. The first edition of this work, which features many famous portraits of the monarchs, engraved. To the first volume, plates 2-20 are stated as being drawn by E Lutterell and engraved by P Vanderbanck, with the frontispiece b G Kneller and engraved by M V.dr. Gucht. To the second volume the plates are by Lutterell and engraved by P Vanderbanck. To the third volume the plates are by Lutterell, I Ryley or G Kneller and engraved by M vander Gucht or Trouvain. Edward Lutterell or Luttrell was an Irish illustrator who was instructed by Edmond Ashfield. As stated by the ESTC, volumes I and two of this work are edited by John Hughes, with the third volume written by White Kennet. Contributors to the first and second volumes include John Milton, Samuel Daniell, John Habington, Sir Thomas Moor, Sir John Hayward, Arthur Wilson and many more. The histories of Elizabeth I's reign and King James I have been taken from the Latin of William Camden. This work was undertaken by several London booksellers with the aim to form the best work on English history. John Hughes compiled the material for the first two volumes, and translated 'The Life of Queen Mary' by Francis Godwin. Hughes was a poet and author who wrote the tragedy 'Amalasont, Queen of the Goths&apos. White Kennett was asked to write the third volume. Kennett was an English bishop and antiquarian. Despite the volume not naming him, it soon became known that he was the author which led to some attacks from his Jacobite enemies. In 1740 Roger North wrote 'An Inquiry into the Credit and Veracity of a Pretend Complete History, viz. Dr White Kennett's "History of England". The denunciation of Kennett's views brought him great popularity in court and he was appointed chaplain. Collated, with twenty eight plates including frontispieces. Therefore, lacking two plates, one of which being a Queen Elizabeth portrait. ESTC reference number T145258. Pagination to volumes II and III is irregular though the signatures and catch-words are continuous, there are also cancel leaves to volume II. A fascinating history of England in the contemporary boards, with richly engraved portraits. In need of a sympathetic rebinding. In contemporary quarter calf bindings with paper covered boards. Externally, worn. Lacking the backstrip to volume II, and the majority of the backstrip to volume I. Patches of rubbing to the boards. Hinges to all volumes are tender, with the front hinge to volume II being weak, with the frontispiece and endpapers detached but present. Title page to volume II is detached but present. Internally, volumes I and III are firmly bound, with the binding to volume II loosening in places. Plates 'Queen Mary' and 'King James I' to volume II are detached but present. The detached plates have chipping to the edges. Tidemarks and water damage to the first and last few pages to volume II, in addition to the outer margins of several leaves. Worming to the gutter of volume II occasionally affecting the odd word. Fading to text of page 389 to volume II. Minor worming to the final twelve pages of the index to volume III and the endpapers, confined to the outer margin and not affecting text. Small loss to the extremity of page 197 to vol I, not affecting the text. Pages to the third volume pages are very bright, with pages to volumes I and II remaining generally bright. The odd spots to pages. The condition of volume II affects the overall of the set. Fair . Ill.: E Lutterell et al. Fair .

Keywords: History Biography England Biography E Lutterell et al.


See more books from our catalog: British History