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 IN MAGNIFICENT CONTEMPORARY BINDINGS.
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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 56 engraved maps, 50 of which are foldout (and very large), 97 engraved plates, including a very large folding pedigree. One of the most famous, celebrated, and important atlases of Great Britain and Ireland, here presented in magnificent contemporary fine bindings.
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Size: 266 x 445 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[(2), frontis, t.p., a1, b2, c1, a-f2, a2, a-b2, a-u2, x3, y-x2, aa-oo2, oo*, B-Z2, 2A-2Z2, 3A-3C2, 3D3, 3E-3Z2, 4A-4Z2, 5A-5F2, 5G1, (1)]; [(2), a2, B1, B-Z2, 2A-2G2, 2H4, 2K-2N2, 2O4, 2P-2S2, 2T3, 2U-2Z2, 3A2, 3B3, 3C-3Z2, 4A-4M2, 4N3, O4, O2, 4P-4Z2, 5A-5G2, 5H3, 5I-5O2, *5O2, *5P2, 5P-5S2, 5T3, 5U-5Z2, 6A-6N2, 6O1, 6P-6Z2, 7A-7M2, 7N1, 7O-7Z2, 8A1, (2)]; [(2), a2, B1, B-Z2, 2A-2Z2, 3A-3U2, *3U1, 3X-3Z2, 4A-4Z2, 5A-5M2, 5N4, 5O-5Z2, 6A-6G2, *6G2, 6H2, *6H2, **6H2, 6I-6Z2, 7A-7Z2, 8A-8Z2, 9A-9F2, 9G3, 9H-9U2, (2)]
Contemporary fine bindings, bound in full calf, boards lined in gilt, spines decorated in gilt with laid down tooled labels. "Long Acre" in gilt too foot of spines, possibly the binder or relating to the street name in London where this was perhaps bound. Leather a little dry, joints starting, but with all boards securely attached, bindings secure. Very attractive on the shelf. Minor shelf wear. Corners a little bumped. Hinges reinforced. Original marbled endpapers present. Bookplate to front pastedown in each volume with an upside-down bookplate present to the rear pastedown in volume two. Exceptionally bright and clean throughout the text. Maps are generally in fine condition throughout, some of the larger foldout maps have the edges a little ragged as typical. Foldout pedigree with some heavier toning and creasing. Internally a genuinely excellent copy.
Textually collates as complete, frequent erratic signatures as printed. In volume one, the a2 dedication is bound after the preliminaries (after f2) instead of following a1 but is present. Volume one has 17 foldout maps, 2 non-folding maps, and 22 plates (including the frontispiece). Volume two has 20 foldout maps and 26 plates (including the large foldout pedigree). Volume three has 13 foldout maps, 4 non-folding maps, and 49 plates. This gives a total of 56 maps and 96 plates throughout all three volumes. A magnificent set with a beautiful suite of fine maps and plates.
