Memoirs of Samuel Pepys, Esq. F.R.S. Secretary to the Admiralty in the Reign of Charles II and James II. Comprising His Diary from 1659 to 1669, Deciphered by the Rev. John Smith, A.B. of St. John's College, Cambridge, from the Original Short-Hand Ms. in the Pepysian Library, and a Selection from His Private Correspondence by N/a - 1825

1669, Deciphered by the Rev. John Smith, A.B. of St. John's College, Cambridge, from the Original Short-Hand Ms. in the Pepysian Library, and a Selection from His Private Correspondence, 1825 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. The first printed edition of this famous contemporaneous account of the fire of London. Edited by Lord Braybrooke using John Smith's transcription of the original diary. Illustrated, with a frontispiece of Pepys and a further six plates to volume I. With a frontispiece and four plates to volume II. With the bookplate of Philip Worsley Wood to both volumes. Wood was a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He had an extensive career in academia, with published writings, being Junior Proctor at the University and also College Librarian. This is the first published edition of Pepys' diary in full. Lord Braybrooke, Richard Griffin, is the editor of this edition. He was a British Whig politician who wrote several historical works and was president of the Camden Society for several years. He used John Smith's transcription of the diary for this publication. John Smith was the first person to decipher the diary in its entirety. Previously small sections had been deciphered. It transpired that Pepys' original diaries were written in a shorthand system devised by Thomas Skelton. Smith's transcription is held in the Pepys library. Pepys' diary enabled historians to understand more about 17th century London. He wrote extensively on personal finances, weather and food. In addition to day-to-day activities the diary provides a commentary on significant events during his lifetime. These include the Restoration of the British Monarchy, the Anglo-Dutch war, The Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. Collated, complete. Condition: In full diced calf bindings. Rebound with the original boards preserved. Externally, generally smart. Patches of rubbing and several marks to boards. Bookplate to the front pastedowns, Philip Worsley Wood. Prior owner's pencil inscriptions to the endpapers and to the illustration list to volume I. Internally, firmly bound. Plates have caused some offsetting to the pages. Pages are generally bright with instances of scattered spotting, heavier to the first and last few pages. Overall Condition: Very Good.