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BAKER, SIR RICHARD.: A CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND
London, printed by J. F. and E. C. and sold by G. Bedell and by T. Williams, 1653. from the time of the Romans government unto the reign of King Charles. Containing all passages of state and church, with all other observations proper for a Chronicle. Faithfully collected out of authors ancient and modern; and digested into a new method. Second edition, enlarged and with an index, folio, 335 x 210 mm, 13.25" x 8.25", added engraved pictorial title page by William Marshall, a few decorative headpieces and initials, pages (10), 625, (30 - index), bound in full calf, gilt and blind ruled border to covers, gilt decorated raised bands to spine, gilt rules and lettering. Hinges and corners slightly rubbed, covers show some scratching to surface, upper cover stained, small faint illegible stamp at top of front endpaper, endpapers slightly browned at edges, neat name and date on second blank endpaper, engraved title page partly trimmed on fore-edge margin, 60 mm (2.5") closed tear at top with neat old repair on reverse, no loss to image, fore-edge of engraved title, letterpress title and next 10 pages slightly worn, ink name written neatly on 1 prelim page, fore-edge margins slightly browned throughout, light staining to 4 pages, couple of short closed margin tears, neatly repaired, contents otherwise clean and bright. Binding tight and firm. A very good copy. The added title page bears the imprint: 'Printed for Laurence Sadler & Tho. Williams, 1653' which is exactly the same as the British Library copy. Richard Baker (1568-1645) left Oxford without taking a degree, studied the law in London and travelled in Europe before becoming an M.P. He was knighted by James I in 1603. On his marriage in 1620 he assumed responsibility for the some of the debts of his wife's family and as a consequence he found himself reduced to extreme poverty ending the last 10 years of his life in the Fleet prison. There he wrote several works including A Chronicle of the Kings of England first published in 1643, 2 years before his death. The work was extremely popular, nine editions were published by 1696 and it was still reprinted in the 18th century. According to Lowndes, Volume I, p. 101, the early editions 'contain many curious documents, and several interesting particulars' omitted by the later editors. At the head of the volume Baker gives a list of 93 source books he has used to research his book. In his Epistle to the Reader hestates that the work has been 'Collected out of Authors both Ancient and Modern, with so great care and diligence, that if all other Chronicles should be lost, yet this only would be sufficient to informe Posterity of all passages memorable or worthy to be known; which of any other generall Chronicle, cannot perhaps be said'. Images sent on request.
Offered for GBP 475.00 = appr. US$ 705.38 by: Roger Middleton - Book number: 3322