Caradoc of Llancarfan, Saint

Estimate

5,000 - 8,000 USD

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Description

Caradoc of Llancarfan, Saint
The historie of Cambria, now called Wales: a part of the most famous ysland of Brytaine, written in the Brytish language above two hundreth yeares past: translated into English by H. Lhoyd. [London: Rafe Newberie and Henrie Denham, 1584]
ink, paper, leather

4to (7 1/4 x 5 1/2 ins.; 190 x 140 mm). Title-page with woodcut border (McKerrow & Ferguson 160), woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, woodcut illustrations (including portraits) in text, woodcut printer's device above colophon, last leaf blank; final gathering loose, but a remarkably fresh copy. Old limp vellum; ties lacking, very slightly soiled.

Provenance

John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland (manuscript label dated 1856 and inscription on flyleaf, "Solus Deus p[ro]tector meus" [Only God is my protector], signed "W"; Sotheby's, 13 July 1887, lot 204) — James Bain, 5th Earl of Rosebery (armorial bookplate; Sotheby's London, 29 October 2009, lot 20). acquisition: Purchased at the foregoing sale through Bernard Quaritch

Literature

STC 4606; ESTC S121940; Sabin 40914

Catalogue Note

First edition. Although purportedly by the twelfth-century St. Caradoc, this work was most likely compiled by Humphrey Llwyd from various Welsh sources.

"A special interest in this work for American collectors consists in its relation of the most ancient 'Voyage and Discovery of the West Indies, performed by Madoc, the sonne of Owen Guined, prince of North Wales, anno 1170'" (Sabin).