Marshall Rare Books
De Origine Moribus, et Rebus Gestis Scotorum Libr Decem…
FIRST EDITION, 2 parts in one with separate titles, woodcut decorative frames with putti and printer’s woodcut devices on titles and last verso above colophon, woodcut floriated and historiated initials, ornaments, pages ruled in black, printed side notes, double page engraved map of Scotland, embellished with vessels, sea monsters and large strapwork armorial coat of arms, 11 full page copper engravings depicting genealogies of the kings of Scotland, most incorporating portrait vignettes, and arms of Mary Queen of Scots on verso of divisional title, stamps of Biblioteca del Seminario Vescovile di Mondovì, manuscript ex libris of ‘Montis Regalis, 1602’, some waterstaining to gutter, occasional light spotting, contemporary limp vellum, cover ruled in gilt with small corner pieces and central fleurons, early title to spine and additional ink decoration, yapped edges, a little stained, 4to, Rome, In Aedibus Populi Romani, 1578.
FIRST EDITION, 2 parts in one with separate titles, woodcut decorative frames with putti and printer’s woodcut devices on titles and last verso above colophon, woodcut floriated and historiated initials, ornaments, pages ruled in black, printed side notes, double page engraved map of Scotland, embellished with vessels, sea monsters and large strapwork armorial coat of arms, 11 full page copper engravings depicting genealogies of the kings of Scotland, most incorporating portrait vignettes, and arms of Mary Queen of Scots on verso of divisional title, stamps of Biblioteca del Seminario Vescovile di Mondovì, manuscript ex libris of ‘Montis Regalis, 1602’, some waterstaining to gutter, occasional light spotting, contemporary limp vellum, cover ruled in gilt with small corner pieces and central fleurons, early title to spine and additional ink decoration, yapped edges, a little stained, 4to, Rome, In Aedibus Populi Romani, 1578.
A scarce copy of a very important book. It contains the first separate map of Scotland published in a book. John Leslie (1527-1596) was Bishop of Ross and ambassador to Mary Queen of Scots. The final genealogical tree shows Queen Mary I and her son, the future King James I of England. The work contains a history and description of Scotland from the mythical reign of Fergus I (4th century BC) to the Reign of Mary. The accounts of Hector Boece and John Mair heavily influenced the early chapters of the work, although there is some first-hand topographical material. The second part is more interesting as he gives an independent account of events with which he witnessed first hand. The descriptions of the Scottish islands and counties are mostly based on Leslie’s own observations.The catholic point of view was a valuable supplement to the works of George Buchanan and John Knox.
The map is based upon the map of Great Britain by George Lily of 1546, with the general shape roughly taken along with many place names.However Leslie has added others in the north and north-west, places known to him through his travels in the Bishopric of Ross. Like Lily he has noted ‘Orcades Insulae XXXI’, but he has left out two of the 31 and has named another island ‘Scetlandia’ (Shetland). This was the first of two maps of Scotland Leslie would publish in 1578.
USTC: 838078, Adams L 541; Shaaber L61