THE HISTORY OF IRELAND FROM THE INVASION OF HENRY II WITH A PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE ON THE ANTIENT STATE OF THAT KINGDOM (3 VOLS., COMPLETE)
London, England: J. Nourse, T. Longman, G. Robinson, J. Johnson. 1773. First Edition. Leather-bound. Quartos. First Edition of Leland's well-regarded and influlential history. Quarterbound dark brown calf over marbled boards. Spine stamped in blind in repeating pattern, where leather meets marbling. Five raised bands, ruled in gilt. Portions of original spine laid down. Pages throughout are clean (if in places lightly toned) and supple. A sweet, very well preserved set, and very easy to make ones way through.
Lovely, thick, laid paper, nice large, readable print, wide margins, side notes. Each of the three volumes has its own errata sheet as the last page of text. Volume I contains several Appendices which reproduce certain central Irish documents, in Latin, such as Magna Carta Hibernia, "The Charter was reissued in 1217 as in England. It was in effect the application of Magna Carta to Ireland, with appropriate substitutions (such as "Dublin" for "London", and "Irish Church" for "Church of England"
Volume II has Appendix consisting of speech by Sir John Davis; Volume III has an Appendix and Index.The Appendix consists of the "Civil and Military Articles of Limerick, as exactly printed from the letters-patent; wherein they are ratified and exemplified by their Majesties under the Great Seal of England." 29 letters, signed at the end of the 29th, by Baron De Ginckle. Volume I 388 pp.; Volume II 516 pp. ; Volume III 694 pp., including Index. Very Good Plus. Item #85257
Price: $650.00