The antiquities of Warwickshire illustrated; from records, leiger-books, manuscripts, charters, evidences, tombes, and armes: beautified with maps, prospects and portraictures. Extra illustrated by Dugdale, William - 1656

London: Thomas Warren, 1656 Book. Illus. by Hollar and others. Good. Half-Leather. First Edition. Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. [16], 232, 283-460, 471-732, 743, 724-826, [16] pages + plates, complete as listed in Upcott. Pagination is very erratic in places, skipping some numbers and duplicating others but this is as it should be. ESTC R4379. The first edition of Sir William Dugdale's history of the county of Warwickshire. Contains one of the first printed images of the monument to William Shakespeare in Holy Trinity Church Stratford on Avon which, because of the differences to what we see now, has caused much comment and conjecture. Contains a map of the county and then the four hundreds. Frontispiece and title page are laid down on more recent paper. Title page stained. The county map is partly laid down on more modern paper. With the plate of the four sheilds of arms at page 58, this is stained and the lower margin replaced. The plate facing page 64 has a tear from the outer margin just touching the image - this has an old paper repair. Old leather covered boards with replacement spine. Cuttings mainly from booksellers' catalogues to the front and rear end papers. Extra illustrated with 13 pages of watercolours and drawings ms list at the start states that these are by Mr C Jeayes, drawing master of Coventry. They are of Brandon Castle, Ryton Church, Newland Hall, Grey Friars Gate, Sponne Gate, Priory and Mill Lane Gate, Cook Street and White Friars Gates, Grey Friars Spire, Inner view Great Hall Kenilworth, Dunchurch church west end, Sheckburgh Hall, Balsall Church west end and Maxstoke Priory. There are 15 images in all as 2 pages have 2 images. There are also another 6 prints - St Michael's Church, Grey Friars Hospital, St Katherine's Guild, Kenilworth Church, Warwick Castle and Weston house. Interesting provenance to the book - Alderman Houlette of Coventry and the Duke of Sussex - both named as previous owners on the list of watercolours, no other indication of their ownership. Typewritten note pasted in at the rear that this volume was Sotheby's 1944 and described as being formerly lot 460 at the Duke of Sussex sale 13/8/1844. The respining and new end papers have presumably removed any other signs of old ownership. As it is a heavy book, extra postage will be required for it to be sent outside the UK..