The Abridgement of the History of the Reformation of the Church of England. By Gilbert Burnet. London: R.C. for John Lawrence, 1682.
-------------------
FIRST EDITION of this abridgement of Burnet's History of the Reformation, here abridged into one volume rather than the three volume edition which appeared three years earlier. This abridged single volume is rather scarce.
-------------------
Size: 117 x 186 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[(1), t.p., A3-A8, a1-a8, B1-X8, B1-2C1, (1)]
Contemporary full calf binding, rubbed with some loss at head of backstrip, with the leather being relatively dry and would benefit from the application of a leather conditioner. Joints rubbed and cracked at the top on both sides, but with both boards securely attached, the binding secure, and without shelf lean. Shelf and edge wear. Top page edge dulled as typical, others very good. Without any attached bookplates, though with a small attached stamp backing (?) extending across from the front pastedown to verso ffep, perhaps in an effort to secure the hinge. A few ownership inscriptions to preliminaries, including some near contemporary, others dated 1803 and 1831, and another one to the head of the title page. Early marginalia throughout, not covering text, seemingly not in the hand of any of the ownership inscriptions. Endpapers edge toned as commensurate with the calf binding. Some dampstaining through the preliminary pages affecting up to around pp.5, decreasing in intensity from the title page & preface leaf onwards. Small edge dampstain in the marginal space between pp.291-319 of the first book not affecting text. Small stain extending across pp.337-343 obscuring a few words of text to pp.339, but with full legibility on the other pages. A few other small dampstains throughout generally not extending beyond a small number of pages. Text block mildly toned throughout as typical, else generally reasonably clean. The entire text without loss of sense throughout with the exception of around 4 words on pp.339 as previously mentioned. Leaf B1 slightly shorter at bottom edge and uneven, probably as printed, medium size hole to edge of title page in gutter just touching text of the printer imprint as pictured, also affecting the verso blank leaf.
