316. Holinshed (Raphael) The First and Second [and Third] Volumes of Chronicles, 3 vol. in 2, second edition, 6 titles within woodcut architectural borders, ornate woodcut initials and head- and tail-pieces, woodcut printers’s devices to final f. of both vol., first title with large repair to lower corner, affecting image, but with no loss of text, but a little loss to outer margin, this also heavily stained, vol.1 D1-G2 with blue staining, affecting text, but still legible, a few small wormholes to outer margins, some repaired, staining at beginning of vol.1 and end of vol.2, affecting text, vol.3 woodcut title taken from earlier in the work, laid down and with middle text section excised and re-supplied in later ink ms., lower corners of A2&3 repaired, G3&4 of final table with lower corners repaired, loss of a few letters, occasional marginal staining, all 3 vol. with a few other small stains or marks, 18th century speckled calf, spines in compartments and gilt, both vol. with red and green morocco labels (loss of 4 letters from these), joints cracked but firm, spine ends chipped, corners bumped, rubbed, [STC 13569], still a very good copy, folio, for Iohn Harison, George Bishop, Rafe Newberie, Henrie Denham, and Thomas Woodcocke [by Henry Denham], 1587.
est. £2500 – £3000
This second edition is well-known for being a key source for the plays of William Shakespeare, in particular Richard II and III, Henry IV, V, and VI, Macbeth and Cymbeline. The Chronicles were always considered politically sensitive and a number of passages in the present edition were brought to the attention of Elizabeth I. These mainly concerned Anglo-Scottish affairs, the babington conspiracy, and Leicester’s campaign in the Low Countries. Elizabeth ordered the Arch-Bishop of canterbury to recall the work, which resulted in the numerous cancels to be found in vol. 1 and 2.