ashetlandpony (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ashetlandpony) wrote2006-12-11 06:58 am
ashetlandpony) wrote2006-12-11 06:58 am
Entry tags:
My oldest book
My goodness, it's actually over 400 years old now...
I bought this treasure at Powell Books in San Francisco in 1968, the same day I bought my 1815 Farmer's Almanack. This first edition of this curious book cost me only $18...
Ye olde English isn't difficult to read once you get used to the odd letters and spellings. I especially like the VV (literally a 'double u').
Anyway, the full title of the book is "A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence In antiquities, Concerning the most noble and renow[n]ed English nation," but the work is usually referred to as "Verstegan's Antiquities," and it is a truly exceptional book. It's not only a very early history of the kingdom and culture of England, it contains one of the first known printed lexicons detailing the roots and origins of common English words.
Continuing:
"By the study and travaile of R.V. (Richard Verstegan, aka Richard Rowlands)
"Dedicated unto the Kings most excellent Majestie." (James I)
As you can see, the publication date is 1605, which makes this the first edition of the book. (Shakespeare was still alive when this was printed! Well, er, no, actually "Shakespeare" was Richard de Vere, and he died in 1604, but I digress...)
Above the engraving of the Tower of Babel is handwritten, in iron gaul ink:
"John Fishwicke is the same owner hereof 1668."
I was told that it's not in its original binding, tho the 'new' binding likely also dates to around the turn of the 18th century - perhaps while in the care of Mr. Fishwicke?)
I bought this treasure at Powell Books in San Francisco in 1968, the same day I bought my 1815 Farmer's Almanack. This first edition of this curious book cost me only $18...
Ye olde English isn't difficult to read once you get used to the odd letters and spellings. I especially like the VV (literally a 'double u').
Anyway, the full title of the book is "A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence In antiquities, Concerning the most noble and renow[n]ed English nation," but the work is usually referred to as "Verstegan's Antiquities," and it is a truly exceptional book. It's not only a very early history of the kingdom and culture of England, it contains one of the first known printed lexicons detailing the roots and origins of common English words.
Continuing:
"By the study and travaile of R.V. (Richard Verstegan, aka Richard Rowlands)
"Dedicated unto the Kings most excellent Majestie." (James I)
As you can see, the publication date is 1605, which makes this the first edition of the book. (Shakespeare was still alive when this was printed! Well, er, no, actually "Shakespeare" was Richard de Vere, and he died in 1604, but I digress...)
Above the engraving of the Tower of Babel is handwritten, in iron gaul ink:
"John Fishwicke is the same owner hereof 1668."
I was told that it's not in its original binding, tho the 'new' binding likely also dates to around the turn of the 18th century - perhaps while in the care of Mr. Fishwicke?)