[Caradoc (of Llancarfan, Saint)] [The Historie of Cambria, now called Wales], first edition, largely printed in black letter, lacking engraved title, now provided in manuscript and tipped-in, illustrations (portraits and coats-of-arms), initials and decorations, lacking 2G4 (final blank), ink marginalia in an early hand (trimmed in parts), C2-6 with tiny hole to bottom edge, K1 with small loss to bottom edge, 2F2 with small loss to fore-edge, spotting and staining, booksellers descriptions pasted in, bookplate, later calf, rebacked, lower board detached, rubbed and worn, [STC 4606; Sabin 40914], 4to, [Rafe Newberie and Henrie Denham], [1584].

⁂ 'First and rarest of all editions' (Sabin). An important early history of Wales from Roman times down to 1282, which remained the standard work on the subject until the 20th century. Caradoc was 'one of the brilliant band of men of letters that gathered round Earl Robert of Gloucester, the bastard son of Henry I' (DNB). Sabin notes 'a special interest in this work for the American collector consists in its relation of the most ancient Voyage and Discovery of the West Indies, performed by Madoc, the sonne of Owen Guined, prince of North Wales, anno 1170'.