The Natural History of Stafford-shire

Oxford: The Theatre, 1686. First edition. Leather. Good. 12.5" by 8". Not Stated. A lovely first edition of this important history of Staffordshire, written by Robert Plot. Illustrated throughout, including with a folding map, and many double-paged plates. The first edition of this work.ESTC citation number R21986.Illustrated with a vignette title page, a folding map, twenty-five double-paged plates, and eleven plates.Collated, bound without one plate, plate XIV. Otherwise, work is complete.Register runs as [2], a4, b2, A-Z4, Aa-Zz4, Aaa-Mmm4.Final two leaves contains a list of subscribers.A detailed and applauded history on Staffordshire, an in-depth topographical work.This work discusses both the scientific history of the county, and the local folklore prominent in Staffordshire. In this work, Plot moved towards archaeology, though he does misinterpret Roman remains as Saxon.Plot started this work after being instigated by Walter Chetwynd of Ingestre Hall.Written by Robert Plot, an English naturalist, who was the first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. He was also the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum. His other well known work was 'The Natural History of Oxfordshire'.Plot dedicated this work to James II, and was later named Historiographer Royal. In the original panelled calf binding, rebacked with the original boards restored. Externally, the front board may detach with further handling. Light rubbing to the boards and spine, with a small amount of loss of leather to the extremities. Minor bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities. Small cracks to the head and tail of the rear joint. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned, with heavier age-toning to the first and last few pages, with some spotting, with some light tidemarks throughout the text. Repair to the reverse of the title page with no loss. Dedication page is almost detached. Double-paged plate between E3 and E4 with some small closed tears with no loss. Closed tear to the plate between pages H2 and H3, with a large chip to the margin with no loss. Closed tears and loss to the margin of plate between M2 and M3. A couple of small closed tears to the plate between N3 and N4. Closed tear to the tail with no loss to the plate between Q3 and Q4, with a repair to the reverse. Loss to margin, not affecting text, to plate between T3 and T4. Closed tear to the margin of leaf Y4. Small closed tear to leaf X4. A little wear to leave Z4.Closed tear to the text with no loss to leaf Ee3. Small closed tears to the plate between Ee3 and Ee4, and a small chip to the margin of plate between Ee4 and Ff1, not affecting image. Plates between pages Ff1 and Ff2, and Ff4 and Gg1, with small closed tears to the tails. Leaf Ii3 with a closed tear to the text with no loss. Small closed tear to the tail of the plate between pages Pp1 and Pp2. Large closed tear to the plate between pages Tt3 and Tt4, with a large chip to the margin with only a ver small amount of loss, and repairs to the folds to the reverse. Tidemark to the plate between pages Zz4 and Aaa1. Large closed tear with no loss to the plate between pages Aaa2 and Aaa3. Edgewear and closed tears to the plate between pages Fff4 and Ggg1. Good