Author: Ashmole, Elias: (Hollar, Wenceslaus; Sherwin, William, illus.:)
Title: The Institution, Laws & Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Collected and Digested into One Body [...]
Description: London: J. Macock, for Nathanael Brooke, 1672. First edition, second issue. Folio, pp. [xii], 720, [cviii] + 33 leaves of plates, of which 15 are folding, most by Wenceslaus Hollar. Title page in red and black, further illustrations in the text, engraved head- and tail-pieces and initials, with final errata leaf. Some library stamps, very occasional light spotting, a few very tiny scorched(?) specks. A few small pencil notes to margins. Some ms additions to p.717 and the plate opposite: 'Thomas Butler, Earle of Ossory' has been numbered 476 and added to the list of Knights Elected in the Reign of King Charles the Second, and his arms drawn in. In Chapter XXVI: Of the Founder and Knights Companions, the names Gilbert Burnet, Wm. Talbot and Ben Hoadley have been added in pencil to the list of Chancellors of the Order, and the name of Peter Mews has been added to the list of Prelates of the Order (p.719). Contemporary speckled brown boards repacked on lighter tan calf, gilt spine, red morocco label, shelf mark in gilt to final compartment, marbled edges. Old leather a bit chipped at edges of reback, scuffed, small tear to headcap, edges worn, corners frayed, very good overall. Blindstamp of Westminster Public Libraries to centre of upper board, and their bookplate to front pastedown. Small library ink stamp to centre of title-page, to portrait frontis (upper right margin), to plate versos (a few slightly showing through to recto), occasionally to other margins seemingly at random (eg. p.105). A larger inkstamp dated 1969 to title-page verso. Appearing in the same year as the original, this reissue resets pp.717-719 and corrects various mispaginations. Plates include the portrait of Charles II by William Sherwin and the famous fireworks engraving by Hollar. The number of plates found varies greatly between copies (ESTC stating 34), possibly due as much to the scope for confusion between single- doublepage plates as to physical presence or absence. Of all Ashmole's (1617–1692) works, his Order of the Garter had perhaps the greatest contemporary impact. In it he uses his antiquarian researches to great effect in reinforcing a conventionally hierarchical view of society, and was rewarded accordingly: 'On the book'sappearance Ashmole was warmly commended by the Duke of York, while copies which he sent to foreign members of the order - complete with specially printed personal dedications - brought him gratifying compliments: the King of Denmark, the Elector of Brandenburg, and the Elector Palatine all presented him with gold insignia, which are preserved at the Ashmolean Museum.' (ONDB). Oldys notes that the King himself conveyed his approval 'not long after the book was publish'd and inscrib'd to His Majesty' by presenting Ashmole with 'a Privy Seal out of the Custom of Paper, for Four Hundred Pounds, as we find in the Diary, he left behind him, of his own Life.' (British Librarian, p.121). ESTC R225555; Wing A 3983; Lownes I, 80; Oldys 119-26.

Keywords: Early Printing (to c.1800, all subjects);British & Irish History & Topography


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