Plinius Secundus, Gaius — Philemon Holland (trans.) | First English edition of The Historie of the World

Plinius Secundus, Gaius — Philemon Holland, trans.

The Historie of the World. Commonly called, The Naturall Historie ... The First [-Second] Tome. London: Printed By Adam Islip, 1601

2 volumes, folio (305 x 207 mm). Two title-pages each with woodcut allegorical device, woodcut head- and tailpieces, decorative initials, last leaf with errata on recto and colophon on verso, one or two instances of early marginalia; lacking first blank leaf in each volume, scattered foxing and staining, a few marginal open and closed tears, a scattered and small rust holes costing a few letters, faint dampstaining to a few gatherings. Early calf-backed marbled paper-covered boards, edges speckled red; rebacked with original spines laid down, lower board of Vol. I detached, rubbed with some loss.

First edition in English, first issue with the Islip imprint. Of this translation, Lowndes says "A work of immense labour, and what few men of his time could have executed in a superior manner to Dr. Holland." Extensively used as a source by Shakespeare, notably for King Lear and The Tempest.

REFERENCES

STC 20029; ESTC S115918; Pforzheimer 496

PROVENANCE

M(?) Holloway (early ownership signature to each title) — William Baker (19th century ownership inscription, dated 1820, to each title) — Dr. D. Ritchie (acquisition note to front free endpaper of each volume) — Sterling l. Spicer (ownership inscription, dated 1925, to front free endpaper of each volume)