My Oldest Book
It's actually over 400-years-old now...
I bought this treasure at Powell Books in San Francisco in 1968, the same day I bought my 1815 Farmer's Almanack. This first edition of this curious book cost me only $35...
Early Modern English (Shake-speare's English) isn't difficult to read once you get used to the odd letters and spellings. I especially like the VV (literally a 'double u').
Anyway, the full title of the book is "A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence In antiquities, Concerning the most noble and renovvmed English nation," but the work is commonly referred to as "Verstegan's Antiquities," and it is a truly exceptional book. It's not only a very early history of the kingdom and culture of England, it contains one of the first known printed lexicons detailing the roots and origins of common Saxon-English words.
Continuing:
"By the study and travaile of R.V. (Richard Verstegan, aka Richard Rowlands)
"Dedicated unto the Kings most excellent Majestie." (James I)
As you can see, the publication date is 1605, which makes this the first edition of the book.
Above the engraving of the Tower of Babel is handwritten, in iron gaul ink:
"John Fishwicke is the true owner hereof 1668."
I was told that it's not in its original binding, tho the 'new' binding likely also dates to around the turn of the 18th century - perhaps while in the care of Mr. Fishwicke?)
And lo, a furrie may be founed within, wearing the eares of a bunneh!
I bought this treasure at Powell Books in San Francisco in 1968, the same day I bought my 1815 Farmer's Almanack. This first edition of this curious book cost me only $35...
Early Modern English (Shake-speare's English) isn't difficult to read once you get used to the odd letters and spellings. I especially like the VV (literally a 'double u').
Anyway, the full title of the book is "A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence In antiquities, Concerning the most noble and renovvmed English nation," but the work is commonly referred to as "Verstegan's Antiquities," and it is a truly exceptional book. It's not only a very early history of the kingdom and culture of England, it contains one of the first known printed lexicons detailing the roots and origins of common Saxon-English words.
Continuing:
"By the study and travaile of R.V. (Richard Verstegan, aka Richard Rowlands)
"Dedicated unto the Kings most excellent Majestie." (James I)
As you can see, the publication date is 1605, which makes this the first edition of the book.
Above the engraving of the Tower of Babel is handwritten, in iron gaul ink:
"John Fishwicke is the true owner hereof 1668."
I was told that it's not in its original binding, tho the 'new' binding likely also dates to around the turn of the 18th century - perhaps while in the care of Mr. Fishwicke?)
And lo, a furrie may be founed within, wearing the eares of a bunneh!