Raleigh (Sir Walter) The History of the World, first edition, initial "The Minde of the Front" f. (lower-margin extended), engraved allegorical title, 8 double-page engraved maps and plans, errata f. with additional slip of errata pasted on and colophon and printer's device verso, with blank 3K4 but lacking final blank, 18 leaf "The Life of Sir Walter Raleigh" bound in after title and before prelims (not called for), title with ink-stamps, trimmed to border and laid down, plate at 5P5 trimmed very slightly into image at fore-edge, C3, 3I5 & 4E2 very small [rust-]hole within text, trimmed a few times just into Chronological Table at fore-edge, errata f. with light staining around printer's device, few instances of early ink annotation or underlining, few neat marginal repairs, occasional spotting or light staining, some light browning, later blind-stamped panelled calf, rebacked preserving gilt backstrip, rather worn, [Pforzheimer 820; STC 20637], folio, [William Stansby] for Walter Burre, 1614.

⁂ Raleigh's ambitious project in which he sought to tell the history of the world from Creation up to his own times. It was written whilst he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, after being charged with conspiracy by James I.

Provenance: S.L. Cohen (bookplate); Ex Oblatorum S. Caroli Bibliotheca (bookplate, ink-stamps to title)