Fitzherbert (John) The Boke of Husbandry, collation: A⁶, B-M⁸, N⁴, (lacking final 2 leaves, both blank), printed almost entirely in black letter, a few ink annotations to text and to front free endpaper, title within architectural woodcut border, early 20th century turquoise crushed morocco, gilt, by Holloway, g.e., inner gilt dentelles, [STC 10995.7; Fussell I, 1], 8vo, Imprynted at London in fletestrete, in the hous of Thomas Berthelet, nere to the condite at the signe of Lucrece, [?1534].

⁂ An early edition of the first book on farming printed in England. William Lambarde's copy with his and subsequent family members' signatures to title. Lambarde (1536-1601) antiquary, lawyer and author of Perambulation of Kent (1570), generally recognised as the first work of British topography. Fitzherbert's work is partly based on the text of Hosbondrye by Walter of Henley (see lot 1), which Lambarde translated into English in 1577. This translation is preserved in a notebook compiled by Lambarde (Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson B 471, fols. 16-38), and is evidence, together with his commonplace book drawn from Columella, Varro, Palladius, Crewcentiis and Henley himself (British Library, Add MS 20709), of his great interest in agriculture. Lambarde's version was first published in 1971 (D. Oschinski, Walter of Henley, Oxford 1971, pp. 307-343). This copy is further signed by his eldest son Multon Lambarde (1584-1634) dated 1608 and then Thomas Lambarde, 1635 and Thomas Lambarde junior, 1665. The Lambarde library "remained at Sevenoaks until 1924, when it was dispersed by sale and bequest" (ODNB).

Seemingly the only copy known with this imprint (ESTC S92547 citing only this copy) with "hous" and "signe" in imprint (another, dated ?1533 has "house" and "sygne".

Provenance: Rothamsted acquisition date 1920.