1610 John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs with Foldout

Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happening in the Church, with an vniuersall historie of the same. Wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as now lately practised by Romish prelats, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Now againe, as it was recognised, perused, and recommended to the studious reader, by the author, Master Iohn Foxe; the sixth time newly imprinted, with certaine additions thereunto annexed: anno 1610. Mense Octobris.

Summary

A two volume set of the sixth edition of Foxe’s famous Acts and Monuments also known as the Book of Martyrs. The work documents the martyrdom of all of history’s recorded saints from the first century through the Reformation period with abundant and gruesome illustrations.

Description

vol. 1: full-page engraved title; Kalendar (6 pp.) printed in red and black; Ad Dominum (2 pp.); Epistle Dedicatory (2 pp.); Ad Doctum Lectorem (2 pp.); To the True and Faithful Congregation (4 pp.); The Utility of the Story (3 pp.); To All the Professed Friends (2 pp.); Four Considerations (3 pp.); Acts and Monuments (728 pp.); vol. 2: full-page engraved title; Acts and Monuments (730-1620, 1817-1872, 1935-1952 pp.). The two volumes contain over 150 woodcuts with the engraved title pages and the fold-out of Windsor Castle.

Collation

vol. 1: *^6, [par]^8, A-U^6, Aa-Uu^6, Aaa-Sss^6, Ttt-Uuu^8; vol. 2: Aaaa-Uuuu^6, 5A-5E^6, 5E-5G^4, 5H-5U^6 (woodcut fold-out plate after 5N4), 6A-6U^6, 7A-7U^6 (-7Q-7U), 8A-8Y^6 (-8A-8M2,-8R-8Y1), 8Z^4. Lacks the woodcut of the Ten Persecutions of the Primitive Church, 128 leaves of text, and the final 14 leaves comprising the Index.

Binding

Black paneled calf. Covers with rolled and ruled rectangular border in blind. Spine with six raised bands and two red morocco labels with the words “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” and “Vol 1” [or 2] lettered in gilt. Endpapers renewed.

Condition

First title page lightly soiled and strengthened to gutter, with two small losses to upper inner corner; Uuu2,7,8 lower corner repair without loss; Uuu8 strengthened to gutter; title page to second volume strengthened to gutter; Kkkk3,Ssss1 marginal lower corner loss; 8Q3,4, 8Y lower marginal repairs. Internally clean and bright, a very nice copy.

Provenance

Bookplates of Major General H.B. Jeffreys and Marian Jeffreys laid in. George Darell Jeffreys (8 March 1878 – 19 December 1960) was a senior British Army officer and later a conservative politician. “John Croft his booke anno 1671” and “James Jackson his book 1818” in neat contemporary hands at foot to both title pages.

Note

Foxe’s Acts and Monuments was first published in 1563 and grew quickly in both size and fame. Second in popularity only to the Bible, copies were ordered to be placed in every cathedral church alongside the Bishops’ Bible. The enormous set was the largest printing project undertaken in England at that time, and the dedication at front includes a large woodcut initial depicting Queen Elizabeth on the throne. Burrow described it as “the greatest single influence on English Protestant thinking of the late Tudor and early Stuart period.” A near fine copy of a scarce and collectible work whose influence is difficult to overstate.

References

ESTC S123056; USTC 3004354. Burrow, John (2008). A History of Histories.