Quarto. [8], 401pp, [1]. With a half-title and an errata leaf. Contemporary gilt-tooled calf, contrasting red morocco lettering-piece. Extremities rubbed. Armorial bookplate of Sir James Montgomery to FEP.

The first edition of Scottish advocate Sir David Dalrymple's (1726-1792) most important contribution to literature. It is, as his friend Dr Johnson justly described this work at the time of its appearance, a 'Dictionary of carefully sifted facts, which tells all that is wanted and all that is known, but without any laboured splendour of language or affected subtlety of conjecture'. A second volume covering the accession of Robert I, surnamed Bruce, to the accession of the House of Stuart, was published in 1779.