Registrum Roffense: Or, a Collection of Antient Records, Charters, and Instruments of Divers Kinds, Necessary for Illustrating the Ecclesiastical History and Antiquities of the Diocese and Cathedral Church of Rochester

Folio. Quarter black calf with raised bands and gilt lettering and tan cloth over rounded-corner boards. vi, (2pp), 1056pp, (16pp). Frontispiece. Very good. Internally tight, bright, uniformly lovely; miniscule modern ownership signature on title page verso. Tight and attractive first edition of this hefty compilation of early Rochester architectural and antiquity records gathered by physician and antiquarian John Thorpe Sr. (1682-1750), then compiled and published by his son John Thorpe (1715-92), an English gent from the quaint age when one could make a living performing antiquarian research, as this tome and a 1788 supplement ("Custumale Roffense") attest. Interestingly, laid in is a 6½" X 7 3/4" sheet, clearly of 18th century vintage, containing several columns of last names and page numbers, continuing on verso, all neatly inked in black ink -- apparently an early owner's genealogical findings. Modern owner's miniscule pencilled note on rear pastedown lists archival work done: "Rebacked Mar 8-10 '63 -- boards of course reused -- original old sheepskin rotted to dust -- endpapers were marbled, faded, partly lost, friable.". …