The Natural History of Stafford-shire

Oxford: Printed at the Theater, 1686 A good copy in full leather binding with map, 26 folding and 11 single page plates. With the Copy of the Proposals and list of subscribers, but lacking the Arms Omitted. The binding, with blind stamped lining to boards, raised bands and title label to spine, is in very good clean condition. The spine has been relaid, but the boards do not look contemporary so this could be a later binding which has itself been repaired. There is a little scuffing to the boards but little significant wear. New endpapers have been added, replacing damaged and heavily marbled ones (? late victorian). The contents have been trimmed at some time (it is now on the quarto/folio border), but all page edges are red and the trimming does not look recent. The trimming is particularly obvious in the subscribers list. Overall the contents are in good condition, with most text pages and many plates being bright and clean. However significant paper repair was carried out at one time using tape with acid content which has subsequently browned. This tape has been professionally removed and new repairs completed - but there is browning and marking of the surrounding paper. Around 13 folding plates are affected, mainly at the central join with book block or at the edges (with occasional loss - Plate 29 is the worst example having lost a side fold - probably around an inch of the image). Most of the work is fairly unobtrusive, but some is very noticeable. Initial text pages including the title page have had repairs to outer margins and there is occasional small repair elsewhere. Contents: title page; imprimatur; dedication to James II 2pp; preface to the Reader 2pp; poem to James II 4pp; poems to Plot 3pp; directions to the map 3pp; large folding map - relaid onto heavier paper; text 450 pp with 26 folding and 11 single page plates; errata; index 10pp finis; Copy of the Proposals and subscribers list 4pp. Please ask for additional images if you want to further assess condition.