“AMONG THE BEST HISTORICAL PRODUCTIONS… BY ANY ENGLISHMAN”: BEAUTIFUL FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH OF CAMDEN’S HISTORY OF ELIZABETH I, 1625, IN CONTEMPORARY CALF-GILT

CAMDEN, William. Annales, The True and Royall History of the Famous Empresse Elizabeth. London: Benjamin Fisher, 1625. Small quarto, contemporary full red morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine and boards, raised bands, black morocco spine label, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.

First edition in English of the first part of Camden’s important and influential history of Elizabeth I, with the scarce and spectacular engraved frontispiece portrait of Her Majesty and the elaborately engraved title page by Vaughan, which depicts important scenes of Elizabeth’s reign as well as numerous coats-of-arms, handsomely bound in contemporary, elaborately gilt-tooled morocco.

"Camden has some claim to be considered as the founder, not merely of antiquarian studies, but also of the study of modern history" (PMM 101). Camden was approached in 1597 by his "friend and patron, Lord Burleigh… to compile a history of the reign of Elizabeth. His lordship had carefully noted the events and actors of the time, and his information and literary records were of invaluable assistance to the historian." Originally published in Latin as Annales Rerum Anglicarum, et Hibernicarum Regnante Elizabetha in two parts (1615 and 1627), this English translation of the first part is complete in itself. Prepared by Abraham Darcie from a 1624 edition in French (published in England; STC 4502), it precedes the first appearance of the second part and spans the first 30 years of the Queen's life. Camden requested the second part be published posthumously (it was published in 1627, four years after his death), and he refused the translation of the work into English during his lifetime, asserting, "I do not desire that they should be set forth in English until after my death, knowing how unjust carpers the unlearned readers are" (Kunitz & Haycraft, 82). Yet learned readers have appreciated Camden's work as a masterpiece. In his History of England, Hume notes that this chronicle "is written with simplicity of expression, very rare in that age, and with a regard to truth. It would not, perhaps, be too much to affirm that it is among the best historical productions which have yet been composed by any Englishman." Selden singles out this work as one of the two lives of the sovereigns of England "which come up to the dignity of the subject, either in fullness of matter or beauty of composition" (Allibone, 330). "With William Camden the chronicle reached its zenith" (Kunitz & Haycraft, 82). Illustrated with scarce, elaborately wood-engraved frontispiece portrait. Later issue of the beautiful, elaborately engraved title page, with translator's name omitted; with translator's portrait at 4F2v (present only in some copies with early issue title page). (An additional facsimile of the portrait follows.) With unsigned gathering "The Author to the Reader" inserted between leaves b4 and ¶4. With ornamental woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces throughout. STC 4497. Lowndes, 591. OCEL I:95. Baugh et al., 335. See An English Library, 271. Armorial bookplate of noted Victorian antiquarian and bibliophile James Comerford. Several old pencil notations regarding bibliography and provenance. Occasional early ink marginalia.

Scattered light foxing. Frontispiece and title page closely trimmed. A few vertical marginal closed tears. Expert restoration to joints, spine ends and corners. An excellent copy, distinguished in a beautiful contemporary binding.