William Camden's Britannia: or, a Geographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland [...] enlarged by the latest discoveries, by Richard Gough. London: John Nichols, 1789, folios.
A FINE SET OF THE CELEBRATED FIRST GOUGH EDITION OF CAMDEN'S BRITTANIA, COMPLETE WITH ALL OF THE MAPS.
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This is the first Gough edition of William Camden's Britannia, generally considered to be the best edition, much expanded, forming a monumental edition spanning three imperial folio volumes. This is an excellent copy with 57 engraved maps, 52 of which are double-page or folding (and are therefore very large maps), 98 engraved plates, 8 of which are double page, and one folding pedigree. One of the most famous, celebrated, and important atlases of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Size: 283 x 448 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[(1), frontis, t.p., a2, b2, c1, a-f2, b2, a-u2, x3, y-z2, aa-oo2, oo*, B-Z2, Aa-Zz2, Aaa-Ccc2, Ddd3, Eee-Zzz2, 4A-4Z2, 5A-5F2, 5G1, (1)]; [(1), a2, B1, B-Z2, Aa-Nn2, Oo3, Pp-Ss2, Tt3, Uu-Zz2, Aaa2, Bbb3, Ccc-Zzz2, 4A-4B2, 3C1, 4C2, 4D-4M2, 4N3, O4, O2, 4P-4Z2, 5A-5G2, 5H3, 5I-5O2, *5O2, 5P*2, 5P-5S2, 5T3, 5U-5Z2, 6A-6N2, 6O1, 6P-6Z2, 7A-7M2, 7N1, 8A1, 7O-7Z2, 8A1, (1)]; [(1), a2, B1, B-Z2, Aa-Zz2, Aaa-Uuu2, *Uuu, Xxx-Zzz2, 4A-4Z2, 5A-5M2, 5N4, 5O-5Z2, 6A-6G2, *6G2, 6H2, *6H2, **6H2, 6I-6Z2, 7A-7Z2, 8A-8Z2, 9A-9F2, 9G3, 9H-9U2, (1)]
Modern half calf over marbled paper backed boards. Spines uniformly sunned, but a very attractive set on the shelf nonetheless. Very large in size and extent. All boards are securely attached, the bindings are secure and stand without shelf lean. There are several errors in the signatures, especially in the second volume, and hence the odd collation at points, but all three volumes collate as complete, inclusive of the maps, plates, and text. The numbers of maps and plates are 57 and 98, respectively. 52 of the 57 maps are double-page and/or folding, and 8 of the plates are double-page. The maps are generally in fine condition. The plates are also generally in fine condition, though a very small number have some mild foxing as typical. In volume two, the pagination and signature has a gap at 6O1 jumping to 6P1, but the leaf 6O2 is not missing, being uncalled for, and the text continues as it should; this is an error of the printer. The errata leaf in volume two (8A1) is bound twice, once at the end of the main text, and another copy of the same leaf is bound at the rear of the index which is its proper location. There is some staining in the outer margin of leaf 9I2 (index) in the third volume, else each volume is exceptionally clean throughout the text blocks, sufficient to be described as a fine set.
