Annala Rioghachta Eireann: Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters
Dublin: Hodges and Smith, 1851 (but 1848-1851). First edition. Item #22249 .
Seven volumes, large 4tos. Contemporary half green morocco, green sand grain green cloth boards, marbled endpapers in a non-pareil pattern, all edges gilt, ribbon markers. Light wear to the bindings at the edges and hinges, else this is a very good set. With the bookplates of John Eacott Manahan and the arnmorial plate of H. L. A.
The Annals are printed in the original Irish with English translation on the facing pages by O'DOnovan. This is Part II of the Annals of the Four Masters, in Irish, with O'Donovan's English translation on facing pages, and copious footnotes.
O'Donovan published the second half of the Annals in 1848, which covered the years 1172 to 1616. After the unexpected success of this publication, O'Donovan went back to the manuscript of the Annals and edited the remainder, covering the years AM 2242 to AD 1171, publishing this part in 1851. New title and final pages were supplied to buyers of the 1848 set, and binders were instructed to rebind the set into a set of six volumes bound separately, plus an index volume of persons and places. The result is a set of seven volumes with title pages dated 1851.
Price: $10,000.00