A Complete Body of Heraldry; Containing, an Historical Enquiry Into the Origin of Armories, and the Rise of Heraldry....the Proper Methods of Blazoning and Marshalling Armorial Bearings....the Arms, Quarterings, Crests, Supporters and Mottos...

London: Printed for the Author By T. Spilsbury, 1780. First Edition. Folio. . 2 large folio volumes, illustrated with copper plates, title continues after mottos: of all sovereign princes and states; as also the Atchievements [sic] of the peers, peeresses, and baronets, of England, Scotland, and Ireland. An historical catalogue of all the different orders of knighthood ... The arms of the counties, cities, boroughs, and towns corporate, in England and Wales; and of the Abbies and religious houses founded therein: as also those of the royal boroughs in Scotland; and of the societies, bodies corporate, trading companies, &c. in London. The arms of Archiepiscopal and Episcopal sees in England and Ireland, and of those heretofore established in Scotland ... A discourse on the origin, use, and abuse, of funeral trophies. Glover's Ordinary of arms, augmented and improved; an alphabet of arms, containing upwards of fifty thousand coats, with their crests, &c. and a copious glossary, explaining all the technical terms used in heraldry .... A remarkable work who began as the painter of arms on the coaches of Queen Charlotte to the purchase of the manuscripts known as the Baronagium genealogicum (compiled by Simon Segar). Although he published other works, this is his most famous work which was subscribed by the royal family and a virtually all the higher aristocracy. It includes an alphabet of 50,000 coats of arms and owed much to the unpublished "offices of arms", an unpublished manuscript by John Anstit, the elder, Garter. One of the essential volumes on the great coats of arms of the English lords. (references: see A. Wagner, Heralds of England; W.T. Lowndes, The bibliographers manual of English literature). George III was among his major sponsors. the plates are all at the back of Volume II. Small mark notes withdrawn from the now defunct Long Island Historical Society. Beautifully rebound in 3/4 brown leather over marbled paper covered boards with decorative gilt rolls, raised bands, red and green contrasting leather labels gilt, other compartments fully gilt decorated, endpapers renewed. A very handsome set.