The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine, of Durham
S. Hodgson, 1785.
First edition. Three volumes. 4to. Half bound in tan calf over gilt and tan marbled boards, with gilt rules. Gilt lettering and raised bands on the spine. Fifty-three black and white steel engraved plates, nine fold-out family trees, two fold-out graphs and eighty-four black and white vignettes. A near fine set, with some fading to the spine, and some light spotting to some of the pages and plates. Occasional ink annotations.
William Hutchinson, a solicitor at Barnard Castle, took a great interest in the natural history and antiquities of northern England. In 1781 he began writing the history of County Durham, to be offered to subscribers - the first volume focused on the history of the see of Durham and its bishops while the second continued the bishops and described Durham Cathedral. A third volume was planned, however the publisher, Hodgson, felt it would not be economically viable and, after a legal dispute, it was decided to offer subscribers a choice, to either receive the volume as a continuation of the series, or to pay slightly more for an enhanced edition containing plates. This final book was then printed in Carlisle by F Jollie in 1794.
There were 1000 copies of the set printed, but it did not sell well, with 400 being sold to the London publisher John Nichols, 200 more were converted to waste paper and the remainder mostly destroyed by fire in 1808.
Stock ID: 46398
