THE THIRD DUKE OF RICHMOND'S COPY
Dictionarium historicum geographicum, Poeticum, Authore carolo stephano; Gentium, Hominum, Deorum Gentilium, Regionum, Locorum, Civitatum, Aequorum, Fluviorum, Sinuum, Portuum, Promuntoriorum, ac Montium, antique recentioraque ad Sacras, & Profanas Historias, Poetarumque fabulas intelligendas necessaria nomina, quo decet ordine complectens. Editio novissima...
Oxonii, [i.e. Oxford].
Excudebat, G.H. & G.D. sumptibus Johan. Williams, Georg. West, Amos Curteyne & Johan. Crisket, 1671.
Folio.
[8], 830pp, [2]. The title is a cancel. Contemporary gilt-tooled calf, contrasting morocco lettering-piece, with an elaborate gilt armorial supra-libros of Charles Stewart, 3rd Duke of Richmond to centre of each board. With alphabetical vellum index tabs to the fore-edge (some torn away). Later bookplate of the Gaddesden library to front pastedown, with both inked and pencilled shelf-marks to FFEP. A little rubbed to spine, joints, extremities; short tear at head of spine, else a handsome copy.
A choice copy, with eminently contemporary provenance, of Anglican clergyman and Oxford scholar Nicholas Lloyd's (c.1630-1680) revised and extended edition of Charles Estienne magisterial historical dictionary of Classical and Biblical names, considered the first encyclopaedia in the French tradition.
As Madan notes, the work was extensively extended to incorporate geographical terms from the medieval era, and numerous further 'quotations from classical poetry, chiefly Latin'. Lloyd was a fellow of Wadham and at the time of publication Sub-Warden of the same Oxford College. He 'owed the inception of this work to his dedicatee', Walter Blandford, then Bishop of Oxford. This 1671 appearance was a reissue, with a cancel title page, of the 1670 London first edition. Madan supposes that the change of publisher may have been because 'William Downing, the publisher of the 1670 edition, could not carry so large a work, and transferred it to John Williams (of London), George West, Amos Curteyne, and John Crosley, who appear on the new title'.
Whether this copy, with charming added alphabetical vellum index tabs to the fore-edge, was referred to by Charles Stewart, third Duke of Richmond (1639- 1672), fourth cousin of Charles II, is uncertain. His arms do however feature on this volume - which was most likely bound just before his death - incorporating the regalia of the Order of the Garter, into which he was invested in 1661, and the anchor to symbolise his appointment, on the Restoration, as Hereditary Great Admiral of Scotland.
As Madan notes, the work was extensively extended to incorporate geographical terms from the medieval era, and numerous further 'quotations from classical poetry, chiefly Latin'. Lloyd was a fellow of Wadham and at the time of publication Sub-Warden of the same Oxford College. He 'owed the inception of this work to his dedicatee', Walter Blandford, then Bishop of Oxford. This 1671 appearance was a reissue, with a cancel title page, of the 1670 London first edition. Madan supposes that the change of publisher may have been because 'William Downing, the publisher of the 1670 edition, could not carry so large a work, and transferred it to John Williams (of London), George West, Amos Curteyne, and John Crosley, who appear on the new title'.
Whether this copy, with charming added alphabetical vellum index tabs to the fore-edge, was referred to by Charles Stewart, third Duke of Richmond (1639- 1672), fourth cousin of Charles II, is uncertain. His arms do however feature on this volume - which was most likely bound just before his death - incorporating the regalia of the Order of the Garter, into which he was invested in 1661, and the anchor to symbolise his appointment, on the Restoration, as Hereditary Great Admiral of Scotland.
ESTC R12135, Madan III, 2909, Wing E3348
£ 1,250.00
Antiquates Ref: 26540
