The Life of Cardinal Wolsey. With Several Copper Plates. By Richard Fiddes, Chaplain to the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. London: John Barber, 1724.
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FIRST EDITION of this important history of Cardinal Wolsey and the Protestant reformation, of course also with focus on King Henry VIII. This example is beautifully bound, being particularly attractive on the shelf with the spine being rather reminiscent of the Nonesuch Press limited edition morocco bindings. It is beautifully illustrated throughout including one particularly excellent foldout plate.
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Size: 244 x 358 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[frontis, t.p., 1ff., i-lv, i (errata), frontis, pp.1-6, plate, pp.7-130, plate, pp.131-298, plate, pp.299-302, plate, pp.303-304, plate, foldout plate, pp.305-534, pp.1-260]
Excellent modern morocco spine with titles finely tooled in gilt rebacked preserving earlier, probably contemporary, Cambridge panelled boards. Edges of boards renewed. Hinges reinforced with cloth. Both boards very securely attached with the binding secure and without shelf lean. Light shelf wear. Top page edge a little dulled else edges are very good. Endpapers replaced. Repair to frontis with a closed tear visible on the recto. Early ink ownership inscription dated 1780 with another below dated 1868. Exceptionally clean throughout the full text block. A fantastic example of this scarce biography.
Collated as complete with all called for plates (usually lacking some or all).
[OCLC 1384790, 123212362; ESTC T118407; MMSID 998362183804341].
