Ancient Irish Histories. The Works of Spencer, Campion, Hanmer, and Marleburrough. In Two Volumes.

Dublin: John Morrison at the Hibernia Press, 1809. Anglo-Irish historian Sir James Ware (1594-1666) originally published these works in 1633; this is the 1809 reprint by Hibernia Press for The Dublin Society (now "The Royal Dublin Society"). Held by all major institutions in the UK, and two in America, but rare in the trade. Quercus notes its presence in the Royal Collection, a copy gifted to the Prince of Wales in 1810. The authors represented are Edmund Spencer (1552-1599), noted for his "Fairie Queen"); the Welsh historian Meredith Hamner (1543-1604); and the martyred Edmund Campion (1540-1581, canonized in 1970). Two volumes; large, heavy octavos (almost five pounds in weight each). Added postage will be a given. Presented in a modern rebind with marbled paper covers, leather tips and spine; four raised bands on the spine; black labels with titling in gilt; volume numbers blindstamped on the spine. Clean texts, and while spotted throughout, they remain nicely readable today. Volume One contains a 22-page listing of the 1809 subscribers and booksellers, Ware's original dedication, and Spencer's "View of the State of Ireland" (266 pages); followed by Campion's "Historie" - 204 pages, with an errata page "In the original text of Campion." Volume Two has a frontis engraving (from the Publisher to the Society). Doctor Hamner's "Chronicle of Ireland" has 410 pages, and is followed by Henry Marleburrough's 32-page "Continuation" of Hamner's work. A significant source for early views of Ireland, which was, in Spencer's blunt words, "a diseased portion of the state." . First Thus. Quarter-Leather. Near Fine/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.