Acts and Monuments... Wherein is set forth at large, the whole Race and Course of the Church... with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great Persecutions against the True Martyrs of Christ. By John Foxe. London: Printed for the Company of Stationers, 1641. [Together with] A Continuation of the Histories of Forreine Martyrs [...]. London: Richard Hearn, 1641, 3 vols, folios.
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A rare early edition of Foxe's Martyrs, the eighth overall, being one of the most desirable and beautiful printings, with abundant large fine woodcuts placed throughout the text of all three volumes, including illustrations of the martyrdoms of William Tyndale, Jan Hus, and many more historically important martyrdoms of Christians. The total number of illustrations throughout the three volumes is 150, including two foldout plates. A full list provided underneath the condition description.
"Foxe's Book of Martyrs, as it has been called ever since its first English publication, was for more than two centuries one of the most widely read books in England. In 1571 a decree of Convocation ordained that copies were to be placed in all cathedral churches and that the houses of archbishops, bishops, archdeacons and resident canons should all have copies for the use of servants and visitors. The lively style of the book, not to mention the gruesome illustrations, which first appeared in the English edition of 1563, was thus given an opportunity to influence - and prejudice - the minds of people in all classes of society, including those who could not otherwise have afforded it" (PMM).
Because a large number of the early editions were owned by Churches or other public institutions, they are practically always found in poor condition and are extremely rare in contemporary bindings - far more often found either in modern bindings or mid 18th century and later bindings. Our copy is a fantastic witness to the tumultuous time in English history concerning the later Protestant reformation, being printed just prior to the English Civil War.
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Condition:
Vol 1: [(1), ¶4, ¶¶8, ¶¶¶8, (a)6, (A)-(H)4, (I)6, A-Z6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Zzz6, Aaaa-Pppp6, Qqqq8, (1)]
Vol 2: [(1), A2-8, B6, A-B4, A3-6, B-Z6, Aa-Zz6, foldout, Aaa-Ttt6, Uuu3, *4, **4, ***3, (1)]
Vol 3: [(1), A3-6, B-Z6, Aa-Uu1, foldout, Uu2-6, Xx-Zz6, Aaa-Zzz6, Aaaa-Pppp6, Qqqq8]; [A4, B-O4, P5, Rrrr-Zzzz4, Aaaaa-Ddddd4, Eeeee3]
Contemporary full panelled calf bindings, very rare in contemporary bindings. Both boards of volume one detached, attached to vols two and three but with an early rebacking doing so. Bindings heavily rubbed and worn.
In volume one, ¶1-2 are the frontis (excised and laid down) and the title leaf. Some dampstaining in the lower blank margin of the ¶ gatherings. Some heavier dampstaining in the outer margin of (E)-(I), affecting text to a few leaves but not affecting legibility, and on a small number of other leaves in the first few quires, else generally bright and clean through volume one, some minor wormholing to a few leaves, catching a few letters of text but without loss of sense. Some worming in the bottom blank marginal space of the second volume. 4Q3 bound twice, once in place of 4R2. Worming and some loss to the foot extending through volume three, almost entirely in the blank marginal space, occasionally catching some letters of text, but generally fragmented at the foot of the leaves throughout. Some leaves in the 3Z gathering of the third volume are misbound in order, but are all there. Otherwise, the text is typically clean and bright throughout, though of course with worming, some sporadic minor dampstaining, etc, in places throughout all three. Closed tears to margins. Scarce in original condition as here. Collation provided above, a total of 150 illustrations throughout the three volumes, inclusive of two foldouts, exclusive of the engraved titles.
Volume one's illustrations are on U2, Z1, (opposite to) Ee5 (i.e. full page plate not in collation), 3E3, 3L2, 3L6, 3P2, 3S4, 3T2, 3Y4 (Jan Hus), 3Z6, 4A2, 4a4, 4b2 (2 on this leaf), 4c4 (x2), 4c6, 4d1, 4i3, 4k6 (x2), 4o6, 4p3, 4p6, 4q1 (x2, large), 4q2, 4q3 (x2, large), 4q4, 4q5. 4q6 (x2), 4q7
Volume two's illustrations are on A3, B2, C1, C3 (x2), C4, E5, I3, K1, K4, K5, K6, N2, T3, T4, Y2, Y4, Z6, 2B2, 2B5, 2B6 (x3, one large), 2C4, 2C6, 2H2, 2N3, 2O1, 2O2, 2X5, foldout plate (Windsor Castle foldout plate bound opposite 3A1), 3A4, 3B2, 3C1, 3F4, 3F5, 3F6, 3G2, 3I1, 3R1,
Volume three's illustrations are on M2, M6, O2, Q1, Q6 (2), R3, R5, T2, T4, T6, U3, X4, Y1, Z3, Z5, 2B6, 2C2, 2C6, 2I4, 2K1, 2K3 (x2), 2K5, 2L1, 2L6, 2M4, 2M5, 2M6, 2N2, 2N6, 2O2, 2Q5, foldout opposite 2U1, 2Z1, 2Z3, 2C6, 2G1, 2G2, 2K2, 2K3, 2K6, 2L5, 2L6 (x2), 2N3, 3Q2, 3Q5, full page plate opposite 3S4, 3T3, 3T5, 3U2, 3U6, 3Z5, 3Z6, 4B1, 4B2, (x2), 4B3, 4B4, 3B5 (x2), 4C6, 4D2, 4D5 (x2), 4E1, 4E2 (x2), 4E3, 4E5 (x3), 4E6, 4F2, 4Q8,
[Wing F2035].
