The Peerage of England; Containing a Genealogical and Historical Account of All the Peers of that Kingdom Their Paternal Coats of Arms, Crests, Supporters and Mottoes, Curiously engraved on 200 Copper-Plates. by Collins, Arthur

London: H. Woodfall et al., 1768. Fourth edition, in seven volumes (pp. 427, index; 487, index; 493, index; 411, index; 499, index; 633, index; 655). Tall octavo (21 cm) original bindings in full calf, with various coats of arms and related symbols in quite fine copper-plate engravings; the complete text generally clean and tidy. Collins (1682?- 1760) was at once author, editor, publisher, and bookseller who produced a number of what today might be called ‘royalty’ books. A relatively early edition of a work begun in 1709- 12; there were many subsequent (one 19th century edition, a continuation by Brydges, ran to nine volumes and 5000 words). This social register was perhaps indicative of the aristocracy’s sense of secure privilege in the scheme of things-- it was a list on which one wanted to be found, and is still useful for genealogical searches. Debrett’s Peerage and Baronetage is a late-comer, the first edition having appeared in 1769. Offered here as an excellent candidate for sympathetic rebinding: the text is clean and complete, including the many engravings; the original rather plain calf bindings are missing several boards-- many of those remainding are loose, the hinges having worn through.  A very few nineteenth century copies, decently bound, of what one bookseller calls a ‘frustratingly scarce set’ are available at around 2000 USD.  As is.