The History of England From the Invasion of Julius Caesar to The Accession of Henry VII, Under the House of Tudor, and Under the House of Stuart. By David Hume. London: A. Millar, 1759-1762.
A BEAUTIFUL SET OF THE FIRST EDITION OF DAVID HUME'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND IN STUNNING CONTEMPORARY FINE BINDINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE IMPORTANT BOOKBINDER RICHARD MONTAGU.
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David Hume's History of England is easily the most important publication on this topic. Interestingly it was written in reverse chronological order (i.e. the Stuart volumes, then the Tudor volumes, then the Julius Caesar volumes). The bibliographical history of the publication of the first edition of Hume's History of England is complex and priority has not necessarily been ascertained, but it is generally understood that the earliest issues did not have a general title page and rather had individual title pages for each section (as with this set) and they did not have an index. In this set offered for sale, 4 of the 6 volumes are in the first edition earliest state, and 2 of the volumes are in the second edition state with "second edition" stated on the title page and an appendix present. The Julius Caesar and Tudor volumes are all first editions with the Stuart ones being the second which was published roughly simultaneously with the Tudor volumes.
It seems highly likely that this set was originally purchased roughly simultaneously and bound together as a set. This is very scarcely encountered. Most copies of this are in later bindings where sets have been married together. This is a remarkable example of the first edition of Hume's History of England in stunning contemporary fine bindings in the manner of the famous bookbinder Richard Montagu. Richard Montagu was one of the most important bookbinders of the 1750s and 1760s. For examples of very similar tooling, see H.M. Nixon's 'Five Centuries of English Bookbinding' plates 67 & 68. This is quite possibly being one of the best obtainable sets of the first edition of David Hume's History of England because of just how beautifully preserved these contemporary bindings are.
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Size: 210 x 264 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[(3), h.t., t.p., v-viii, 464pp, (3)]; [(3), t.p., i-v, 457pp, (3)]; [(3), h.t., t.p., v-viii, 402pp, (3)]; [(3), t.p., iii-iv, pp.403-739, 1pp (advertisement), (3)]; [(3), h.t., t.p., v-viii, 424pp, (3)]; [(3), h.t., t.p., v-viii, 446pp, 1pp (errata), (3)]
Stunningly attractive contemporary fine bindings in the manner of Richard Montagu, clearly bound circa 1762-1765. All volumes retain their tooled morocco labels (original) and are without restoration. All boards are attached, joints rubbed, some hinges cracked, but with boards generally secure. Some cracking to joints as expected. Gilt to the spines is bright and attractive without any significant losses. Some wear to extremities of spines with minor losses. Shelf & edge wear as typical. All volumes show beautifully on the shelf without shelf lean. Top page edges uniformly dulled as typical, all edges marbled, very good. Light rubbing to boards but generally very good to near fine. Gilt borders to boards bright and attractive. Bookplate to front pastedown of each volume, approximately contemporary to printing and presumably remaining in the same aristocratic collection for the majority of their history, thus the explanation for their incredible state of preservation. Some minor foxing in places throughout with mild toning, the occasional leaf a bit more toned, but the full text blocks are legible without loss of sense. No leaves are torn with any loss to text. Collated in the following order: Stuart Vol 1 & 2, Tudor Vol 1 & 2, Julius Caesar Vol 1 & 2. Rear blank in Julius Caesar vol 1 torn with loss, but present. 4/6 vols with half titles (very scarce). Advertisement leaf present at rear of Tudors vol 2 as called for, with the errata leaf to the rear of Julius Caesar vol 2.
An excellent set of the most important & influential treatment of English history.
[W.B. Todd pp.196-198]
