Holinshed, Raphael
The Description of Scotland
Estimate: £300 - £500
Auction: 18 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
written at the first by Hector Boetius in Latine, and afterward translated into the Scotish Speech by John Bellenden Archdeacon of Murrey, and now finallie into English, by R. H. Whereupon is inferred the historie of Scotland … from the originall thereof until yeare 1571, gathered and written in English by Raphaell Hollinshead; and continued from 1571, to 1585, by others. [London: at the expenses of J. Harison, G. Bishop, R. Newberie, H. Denham, a. T. Woodcock, 1587]. Folio, later diced russia, rebacked, all edges gilt, collates A-2A6 2B1 ²2B1 2B3-2B6 2C-2N6 2O4 2P-2T6, [2] 3-254 253 256-464 pp., pencilled note to front free endpaper identifying pp. 421-4, 433-6 and 443-50 as being 18th-century facsimiles to replace suppressed leaves, text in black letter, double column, 2 title-pages with strapwork woodcut borders (A1 and C1), binding worn, joints cracked, a few small worm-holes in text, intermittent worm-track in fore margin occasionally repaired, K2 repaired closed tear [STC 13659]
Footnote
This is the second part of the second volume (of two) from the second edition of Holinshed's Chronicles, which was enlarged from the first edition of 1577. The second volume also contained ‘The Description of Ireland’ and a table (index), which are not present in this copy.