The Epistle of Gildas, the Most Ancient British Author, Who ... Acquired the Name of Sapiens
Gildas
London: T. Coats for William Cooke, 1638. First edition in English 12mo. (134),327pp. 19th century polished calf. Spine in 5 compartments, gilt title and rules. Boards blind-tooled in a lozenge design built up with a single floral tool. Engraved frontispiece of Gildas by William Marshall. First edition in English, translated from the Latin by Thomas Habington. Early handwritten notes on the front blanks. Signature of C. C. Dendy. Hinges cracked but strong; light edge wear; else a very good copy. Gildas provides some of the earliest commentary on the war effort associated with King Arthur. The first edition of the original Latin was pubished as Opus de Calimitate, Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae in 1525. STC 11895. Potthast, I, 525. Sarton I, 455. Lowndes, p. 790. ESTC S103163. Very good Hardcover (Item ID: 16687)
$5,000.00