The First and second volumes of Chronicles .[with] The Third volume of Chronicles, beginning at duke William the Norman, commonly called the Conqueror; and descending by degrees of yeeres to all the kings and queens of England in their orderlie successions: .

Raphael Holinshed, William Harrison, now augmented by John Hooker [alias Vowell Gent] and others.

Published by John Harrison, George Bishop, Rafe Newberie, Henrie Denham and Thomas Woodcocke, At London printed in Aldergate Street at the signe of the Starre, 1587

About this Item

A good copy of the 2nd edition of Holinshed's Chronicles bound in 3 volumes. This edition is particularly known for its association with William Shakespeare who used it for historical background for example in Macbeth. It lacks the extensive woodcuts found in the 1st, but has ornate initial capitals and head and tailpieces. This set was rebound in full morocco leather in the 1800's. The bindings have flat spines with gilt titles and volume numbers and gilt lining. The boards have gilt lining around the edges and gilt dentelles on the inner edges. Endpapers are marbled and all volumes have silk bookmarks. The leather is worn on the edges, spine joints, spine ends and corners but the bindings are currently sound. Vol I has a small closed tear at the top spine end. Vol II has a scuff across the front board. All page edges are gilted. The 2nd edition brings the history up to the date of publication and, as such, attracted the displeasure of Queen Elizabeth I who had clear views on how her reign and actions should be recorded. The Archbishop of Canterbury was required by the Privy Council in February 1587 to recall the work and reform it. The process of printing large works was very different to that of our digital world and the censorshjp and revision process must have caused chaos at the printers. Sections of the work on Scotland in Vol I and parts of the Chronicles of England are affected and all copies reflect the censorship mess to some extent with odd pagination, cancels, substitution and gaps in some copies. This set is largely complete (lacks title to Chronicles of England and the colophon). Very different thicknesses and colour of the paper suggest where sections have been substituted and there are several instances of mispagination. Contents - Vol I: title and prelims [viii]; text 250 pp; Historie of England in 8 books; [iv]; 202 pp; title The Second Volume of Chronicles [containing Ireland and Scotland] [viii]; Ireland pp 9-61, blank verso; title Irish Historie, [xii]; 183 pp with blank verso; title - Description of Scotland [2]; text pp 3-23 blank verso; title Historie of Scotland [blank verso]; preface 2pp; text 29-404; Annals of Scotland pp 405-464 ; table alphabeticall First to Fourth 53 pp; Colophon January 1597 1p. Vol II: lacks title - text covers William I to Henry VII- [vi]; text 1-798. Vol III: text (from Henry VIII) pp 799 - 1267; Continuation - preface 1268-9, text 1270-1592; third table 58pp; lacks colophon. The contents generally bright, clean and sound. There are some minor areas of staining or marking, some paper repairs, and some mispagination. Please enquire if you would like to see the details on each volume and/or further images.

Seller Inventory # 033342

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The First and second volumes of Chronicles .[with] The Third volume of Chronicles, beginning at duke William the Norman, commonly called the Conqueror; and descending by degrees of yeeres to all the kings and queens of England in their orderlie successions: .
• Publisher: John Harrison, George Bishop, Rafe Newberie, Henrie Denham and Thomas Woodcocke, At London printed in Aldergate Street at the signe of the Starre
• Publication Date: 1587
• Language: English
• Binding: Full-Leather
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • 16th century works
  • HISTORY