No 23, V 1 2, Domesday Book for Devonshire, 18th C, 15-1/2" x 10-1/2.

1714. Pre-Publication Manuscript Copy of the Devonshire Chapter of the Domesday Book [Manuscript]. [Domesday Book]. No. 23. V 1.2. Domesday Book for Devonshire. London?, c.1714-1783. 73 ff. Folio (15-1/2" x 10-1/2"). Marbled paper-covered limp boards, raised bands to spine, hand-lettered title panel to front cover. Rubbing and soiling to boards, spine and extremities with wear to spine ends and corners, sections of marbled paper rubbed away, chip to lower corner of title panel, minor worming to rear cover, pastedown and endleaves, two tiny stab-holes though rear half of text block. Light toning to leaves, text in neat hand to rectos of leaves, neat contemporary annotations in pencil to margins. $1,250. * The Domesday Book is a comprehensive census and survey of English landowners and their property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1085. It is probably the most remarkable statistical document in the history of Europe. The British government initiated a project to publish the book in 1773. It was eventually published as a two-volume set in 1783. (Two more volumes of indexes and related material were added to this set in 1811 and 1816.) Carefully arranged and free of corrections, this faithful transcription of the Devonshire chapter appears to be a pre-publication fair copy. Most of the annotations in pencil are family names, places and landmarks. The watermark on several leaves bears the cipher "G.R.," dating the manuscript to the Hanoverian Era, which began with the coronation of King George I in 1714. It is likely this manuscript was produced between that date and the publication of the first printed edition.