Berners, [Dame Juliana] | Hawking with a fine provenance

Property from the Library of John M. Schiff

Berners, [Dame Juliana]

The Gentlemans Academie: Or, The Booke of St. Albans. Containing three most exact and excellent Bookes; the first of Hawking, the second of all the proper termes of Hunting, and the last of Armorie: all compiled by Juliana Barnes, in the yere from the incarnation of Christ 1486. And now reduced into a better method, by G[ervase] M[Arkham]. London: [Valentine Simmes] for Humfrey Lownes, 1595

3 parts in 1, additional section titles to parts 2 and 3 but with continuous pagination and signatures, 4to (186 x 130 mm). 116 woodcut coats-of-arms. Lacks final blank, A4 with loss to inner margin, early and interesting ownership note to title along with a light stain, else an unusually nice, well-margined copy. Contemporary paneled speckled calf with spine gilt title "Barnes;" gilt rubbed and skillful restoration to ends and joints. Brown morocco pull-off case by Riviere.

First edition of Markham's epitome of the 1486 edition by Dame Juliana Berners, sister of Lord Berners, and Prioress of the Nunnery of Sopwell, Hertfordshire. With separate titles to the " Treatise of Hunting," and " The Booke of Armorie," the work is scarce and much of the author's life remains a mystery.

The present edition was never reprinted and is listed by Collier in his "Rarest Books in the English Language."

REFERENCE:

Schwerdt 2:12; STC 3314

PROVENANCE:

The Marquess of Waterford ("Beresford" written on title page, recording the purchase and price in London, 1696)