AN INQUIRY CONCERNING THE PRIMITIVE INHABITANTS OF IRELAND ILLUSTRATED BY PTOLEMY'S MAP OF ERIN CORRECTED BY THE AID OF BARDIC HISTORY
London, England: G. and W. B.Whittaker, 1821. First Edition. Leather-bound. Octavo. Half-burgundy morocco over stone-marbled boards, decoratively stamped along edges of leather. Four raised bands to spine, ruled in gilt, with contrasting gilt-on-black spine label, and author's name and date stamped in gilt into two of the five compartments. 303 pp. including Index.Large, tape-repaired map within, and error half-sheet tipped in. Lovely! Near Fine. Item #85185
"in the endeavour to develop TRUTH, amidst the mazes of fable, the decptive play on names, and the erroirs of conjecture, I found it necessary to expose those manifest fictions which, for ages, have usurped its place, disguised and distorted it. If those researches have enabled me to prove that, with regard to the population, laws, morality, arts and sciences of the ancient Irish, the present race is comparatively a large nation, enjoying a considerably greater share of liberty, protection, knowledge and happiness, I shall deem my time well-employed, in having contributed to the pleasure which such conviction would afford to the friends of Ireland...However, if you, my lords and Gentlemen, should consider this work an appeal to facts as well as to common sense, and believe I have been successful in converting the groundwork of Bardic story from fable to authentic history, and in evincing the British and Irish to be, almost collectively, the posterity of oen distinct stock, you will be sensible that I spared no pains in my endeavours..." (Author's preliminary note to members of the Irish Royal Academy).
Price: $350.00