[Rarebooks] fa: FRANCIS BACON - HISTORIE OF THE RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SEVENTH - 1622

[ArCh]

Listed now, auction ending Sunday, October 11. Images and more details can be found at the URL below or by searching for the seller name arch_in_la. 

https://tinyurl.com/y2u33wdl

Thanks,
Ardwight Chamberlain
Ann Arbor, MI, USA


[Sir Francis Bacon:] The Historie of the Raigne of King Henry the Seventh. Written by the Right Honourable, Francis, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban. London: Printed by W. Stansby for Matthew Lownes, and William Barret, 1622. First, early, or mixed edition. Small folio (29.5 cm) in early full calf; [4] + 248 pp.; title-page with an elaborate woodcut architectural border. ESTC S1406.

One of several printings of the work published in the same year, their priority somewhat obscure; FWIW, an earlier owner/dealer has described this copy as the first edition in a penciled note on the front paste-down. Lacking the frontispiece portrait, else complete. Boards and front free-endpaper detached, corners bumped and worn; title-page laid down, with an old paper repair and modern inked number on the verso; top corner of dedication leaf torn away, not affecting the text; occasional marginal notes in an early hand; toning to the title-page, occasional small spots and stains to the leaves, otherwise quite clean and sound.

GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA'S copy, with a presentation inscription on the (loose) front free-endpaper: "To Geo. A. Sala from W.H.H. 8 Rue de B[?] Paris," and with an ink annotation on the verso, possibly in Sala's hand, transcribing a 1622 letter from the Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville: "My Lord Verulam's History of Henry VII is come forth. I have not read much of it, but they say it is a very pretty book... The price is six shillings." Sala (1828-1895) was a hugely successful and Homerically prolific novelist, journalist, foreign correspondent and travel writer. He was also a prodigious collector of books, but one who in later life was forced to sell his large library to pay off creditors.

Bacon's only completed historical work of significance, the Historie of Henry the Seventh was written in the immediate aftermath of his fall from power and imprisonment for bribery. In October of 1621, he sent the manuscript to King James I, who clearly approved, as it was published early the following year. The work is dedicated to James's son, the Prince of Wales, the future Charles I. "Sir James Mackintosh, in his 'History of England,' appears to regard Bacon as having simply set to work, in order to gratify James I, to produce a flattering portraiture of his royal ancestor. Spedding, who has a better title to be heard on this subject than any other authority, delivers this weighty judgment: 'Though not one of his works which stand highest, either in reputation or popularity, with later times, the "History of Henry the Seventh" has done its work more effectually perhaps than any of them. None of the histories which had been written before conveyed any idea either of the distinctive character of the man or the real business of his reign. Every history which has been written since has derived all its light from this, and followed its guidance in every question of importance; and the additional materials which come to light from time to time, and enable us to make many corrections in the history of the events, only serve to confirm and illustrate the truth of its interpretation of them'" (DNB).