PBA Galleries

[6], 452 pp. Woodcut device on title page, headpieces, tailpieces & initials. (folio) 29x18 cm (11½x7"), early calf, rebacked with modern calf, spine ruled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering piece, new endpapers. First Edition.

One of the major works of the English antiquary Henry Spelman (1462-1641), noted for his detailed collections of medieval records, in particular of church councils. This is the first part, A-L only. The second part appeared for the first time in the posthumous 1664 edition.

There are numerous errors in pagination; between p. 156 and 231 none of the pages are numbered correctly. There was another state, with a different setting of type on the title-page and first leaf of text; that state has "chartis & formulis" in line 13 of title. The final two leaves, which are blanks, have ancient-looking handwriting (Anglo-Saxon?) on them.