Ware, James

The antiquities and history of Ireland.

      London Awnsham & John Churchill and Jonathan Robinson 1704-05 Folio (31.7 cm, 12.4"). [18], 172 (i.e., 178), [14], 76 (i.e., 80), 164, 64, 175-196, [4], 70, 44, 55 (i.e., 57), [1], 28, [4], 42 (i.e., 46), [4], 59, [1] pp. (pagination erratic); 4 plts., 1 map. First English edition of Sir James Ware's landmark compendium of Irish history, originally published in Latin in 1654 as De Hibernia antiquitatibus ejus disquisitiones. Often compared to the great English historian William Camden, the Irish-born Ware produced what was then the most inclusive and authoritative work to date on the origins of Ireland and her people. The DNB says that, "With its copious detail and trustworthy description of the antiquities and traditions of Ireland, De Hibernia finally brought the country out of the shadow of Britain and characterized it fully to a scholarly European audience." The main title-page bears a London imprint, but - as is seen in a large number of reported copies - the separate sectional title-pages give Dublin, printed by Andrew Crook, some dated 1704 and some 1705. The pagination and signatures are wildly erratic, but the text is complete; the volume is illustrated with four plates (including depictions of armory, coins, harps, and other antiquities) and a map of Hibernia. A handwritten copy of the 1553 prophecy (in French) of George Vousuel, Archbishop of Dublin, is laid into the volume. ESTC T142075; Lowndes 2842. On Ware, see: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online. Recent half calf and marbled paper-covered sides, leather edges tooled in blind, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label, gilt-dotted raised bands, and gilt-stamped decorations in compartments. Title-page, browned, with inked gift inscription in upper margin, dated 1835. Lower (closed) edges, title-page, and several other pages institutionally rubber-stamped. Plate leaves and some others browned, with most pages age-toned or foxed but paper not brittle; smudges to edges of endpapers and some other leaves; last few leaves with page edges delicately nibbled! Occasional early inked and pencilled marginalia. => A sound, enjoyable copy.