Author: Thoroton, Robert:
Title: The Antiquities of Nottinghamshire, extracted out of Records, original Evidences, Leiger Books, other Manuscripts, and Authentick Authorities. Beautified with Maps, Prospects, and Portaictures.
Description: London: printed by Robert White, for Henry Mortlock [...], 1677. First edition. Folio, pp. [xvi], 507, [xxxvii] + 22 plates as called for including four leaves containing 520 coats of arms and the separate slip of eight further coats of arms. Imprimatur leaf followed by title-page in red and black, copious illustrations and genealogical tables in the text, woodcut initials and head-pieces. Occasional tiny wax marks, a few (approx. 5) repairs to bottom margins, tiny scorch hole to 2R1. Recent dark brown calf, spine ornately gilt, red and orange morocco spine labels for title, author and date, gilt borders, corner pieces and dentelles, marbled endpapers. Spine sunned, faded patch to top quarter of upper board, very good. At front, in gilt to lower turn-in 'Bound by A. Price, Oxford'. Robert Thoroton (1623–1678) 'commenced his Antiquities of Nottinghamshire in 1667. He first worked on some transcript notes which his father-in-law Gilbert Boun had made from Domesday Book. He assisted Sir William Dugdale in his Visitation of Nottinghamshire, 1662–1664. For his researches he employed paid assistants at considerable expense to himself, delving into family archives, registers (some now lost), estate papers, church monuments, and epitaphs. Like a number of county antiquaries he was little concerned with his own times, or indeed with his own century, but tried to trace the manorial history of each parish back to Domesday. He showed little interest in Roman remains, while protesting at enclosure and destruction of woods. His notes, made on the back of letters from his patients in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Derbyshire, are now in Nottingham Public Library. The folio volume of Thoroton's Antiquities was printed in London in 1677, illustrated with engravings by Hollar after Richard Hall and dedicated to Gilbert Sheldon, archbishop of Canterbury, and Dugdale, both personal friends. Dugdale wrote to the antiquary Sir Daniel Fleming, 'Dr Thoroton's book cost me 16s to 18s. I do esteem the book well worth your buying, though had he gone to the fountain of records it might have been better done' (1 Sept 1677, Le Fleming MSS, 139–40). John Throsby published a reprint of Antiquities with additions, in three volumes (published 1790–96 but dated 1797).' (ODNB) ESTC R22553; Upcott 1047

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


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