Yorke, Union of Honour, COATS ARMS, unique copy, 1640

* * Includes additional proof of engraved title page and three original 18th/19th century hand-painted armorials, two on vellum * *

The Union of Honour. Containing The Armes, Matches And Issues of the Kings, Dukes, Marquesses and Earles of England from the Conquest, untill this present yeere, 1640
by
James Yorke

* * See below for more pictures * *

 DETAILS: (London): Printed by Edward Griffin for William Leake, 1640. First edition. 19th century blindstamped calf, with 5 raised bands to the spine, and two calf labels on the spine; all edges gilt. [18], 331, [1], 76, 52, [3]pp. Illustrated with additional engraved title page, additional proof of engraved title page, 929 woodcut armorial plates in text, plus woodcut head- and tailpieces, and initials. 4to (larger sized book - 7.75in x 11.5in). This is a heavy item weighing over 1.25kg with packaging.

CONDITION: Near Fine (see table below for details). Some rubbing to boards, bumps to board corners. Split to bottom of front hinge, binding still solid. Armorial bookplates to front endpaper and front pastedown (William Durant, William Allen Potter), and small label of Scottowe Hall Library. Proof of engraved title page re-margined. A little sunning to margins of pages, and scattered light foxing. A couple of corrections in ink to text, and very occasional minor ink spots. Errata leaf at rear re-margined, with a little loss to headpiece, text unaffected. Generally in very impressive internal condition. *Photo(s) given of actual book.

CONTENTS: Full subtitle: "With the Armes of the English Viscounts and Barons now being: and of the Gentry of Lincolnshire. Whereunto is Annexed, A briefe of all the Battels which have beene fought and maintained by the English since the Conquest, till the yeere 1602. Collected out of the most approved Authours, former or moderne."

A very impressive copy of this 17th century work providing armorial woodcuts of the royal family and nobles of England from 1066 onwards. The first section shows the arms of the royal family from William the Conqueror to Charles I. The printing date is of note here, the work being published shortly before the start of the Civil War. The volume is also dedicated to Charles.

This is followed by the main section of 'Dukes, Marquesses and Earles', alphabetically arranged from Arundel to Yorke, and including Bath, Buckingham, Cornwall, Dorset, Ferrars and Derby, Holdernesse, Leicester, Monmouth, Nottingham, Oxford, Rivers, Rutland, Salisbury, Suffolke, Thanet, and Warwicke, to name a few. Both of these opening sections include notes on the wives and children of the subject, occasionally with dates.

There is then a 76-page account of the various battles fought by the English between 1066 and 1602, separated into sections in England, Scotland and Wales; France; and Ireland. This is followed by "The Names and Armes of such English Viscounts and Barons, whose Fathers beare no higher Titles." There are no biographical notes on each noble, just their name and their arms. Finally there is a section containing 'The Names and Armes of the Gentry of Lincolnshire." The work concludes with a politely worded errata list.

The woodcut arms are the main attraction here, along with the three hand-painted armorials. There are 929 woodcuts throughout the work, and they are in impressive condition. There are also woodcut initials for the main section headings and the first letter of each royal entry, and typically impressive head- and tailpieces. This copy includes its original additional engraved title page (dated 1641, and containing a portrait of James Yorke at the bottom). It is uncommon for this page to survive, so it is doubly surprising that this copy also includes an additional mounted proof of the title page (added later, see below). Both these pages are in nice condition.

The work is internally in solid shape, with some sunning and foxing to the margins, and the errata page re-margined. The later binding is also solid, and attractively decorated with floral designs to the boards and spine.

This copy also includes three additional original arms, produced later (the King Felipe II armorial we date to mid/late 18th, and the other two to the early 19th century). All three are hand-drafted and hand-painted. One is a depiction of the British Royal Coat of Arms in pen and ink on paper, and has been beautifully finished in gilt and colours. The other two are both painted on vellum. One depicts the Order of the Garter (for the reign of Queen Mary); the other appears to depict an encrested order of the garter (presumably that of King Philip II, who was awarded the honour in 1554). The latter is particularly impressive, with striking gilt finish, and on the reverse of the image is a biographical study of King Philip of Spain, with beautiful calligraphy and a coloured initial. These unique armorials came with the volume and are a very attractive bonus to an already impressive work.

There is an early 19th century hand-written note laid in which states: "Mr North purchased this copy at Mr Splint's (?) sale of books in 1814 for 4. 4. 0. The Engraved Title by J Rawlins is very rare. I have since added a very curious Proof of the Engraved Title."