The Historie of Great Britaine under the Conquests of the Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans, Their Originals, Manners, Habits, Warres, Coins, and Seales; with the Successions, Lives, acts & Issues of the English Monarchs from IULIUS CAESAR, to our most gracious Soueraigne King IAMES

SPEED, John (c. 1552-1629)

Published by Printed by John Beale for George Humble, London, 1623

About this Item

Folio (340 x 220mm). [xx], 1258pp., [74] (numerous error in paging and register). Signatures: [par.]6 (1st leaf blank?) A8; B-2H6; I4; 2K-4S6; 4T4; 4V-4Y6; 4Z8 (4Z8 [sic] 4Z4); 5A-5T6; 5V1 (of 4). Printer s device of Humble on title, head- and tail- pieces and initials throughout. Many in text engravings including 8 full page genealogies, and numerous woodcuts throughout of coins and seals. Text in double column. Period full English calf rebacked and restored at corners in modern leather and stamped in gilt "Historie of Great Britain Speed"; (lacking frontis., title somewhat browned and remargined, text block lightly browned around edges, lacking final 3 leaves of Table, otherwise good). Sold as is. Large white on black bookplate of Dr. Otto Orren Fisher of Detroit, Michigan to front pastedown. Second Edition of Speed s Historie of Great Britain. Second Edition, revised and enlarged, and reissued in 1625 and again in 1627; Speed s Historie of Great Britain was originally published in 1612 with The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine as a companion volume, though continuously paginated (The Historie being the second work and the contents listing refers to the first four books which were part of the Theatre) although this work (books 5 - 10) is complete in itself. His account of the reign of Henry VIII (p. 998) is followed by an appendix, described in the running head as A Catalogue of the Religious Houses, Colledges, and Hospitals sometimes in England and Wales. These sections hold a wealth of information on early successors and founders of English Institutions. It was likely Speed, an apt historian himself, borrowed many of his materials from William Camden and was supplied by many Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Henry Spelman and other antiquaries with whom he was acquainted. Although he probably had access to historical sources that are now lost to us (he certainly used the work of Saxton and Norden), his work as a historian is considered mediocre and secondary in importance to his map-making and the town plans he drew. Despite its many defects, the Historie was very frequently cited by later writers. An important rich, historical and artifactual book on Early English history. STC (2nd ed.) 23046.3. Seller Inventory # LD8073

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Historie of Great Britaine under the ...

Publisher: Printed by John Beale for George Humble, London

Publication Date: 1623

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: Second edition.