Montaigne, Michel Eyquem de

Three parts in one, small folio (11 1/8 x 7 1/8 in.; 280 x 180 mm). Woodcut headpieces on titles, second (R1r) and third books (2R5r) with separate dated title pages, engraved portrait of the translator, John Florio, by William Hole (A6v), woodcut head-, tailpieces, and decorative initials, with final blank leaf, contemporary annotations throughout in brown ink; some side-notes shaved, some staining throughout, some pages misnumbered (T5v, 2D1v, 2D6r, 2H1rv, 2H6rv), but all present.  Late seventeenth century calf, covers with gilt tooled central ornamental cartouche with initials "IW" (James Waite) in blind; rebacked, first title somewhat soiled.

Lord William Howard (signature to title) — James Waite, 1605; H.T. Wake (Notes and Queries) — Percy Scawen Wyndham (bookplate to front pastedown) — Lucius Wilmerding Sr. (bookplate to front free endpaper) — Parke-Bernet, 27-29 November 1950, lot 530 

STC 18042; ESTC S111840; see Pforzheimer 378 (citing first edition)

SECOND EDITION IN ENGLISH. COPY ONCE OWNED BY LORD WILLIAM HOWARD (1563-1640),  sometimes known as "Belted or Bauld (bold) Will," with his signature on the title-page and numerous marginal annotations throughout in his hand. Howard's annotations include references to Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Walter Raleigh, Queen Elizabeth, Sir Thomas More, Queen Mary, Erasmus, and many other persons of the epoch. Above Howard's name on the title-page (which has been partly cancelled with faded ink of a later date) is the motto "Merces amoris amor"; the title-page also bears three other inscriptions in other hands. Additionally, the volume features a full page manuscript poem by Richard Corbett.