Beschreibung:

SCHEFFER, Joannes (1621-1679). The History of Lapland . At the Theater in Oxford: 1674. 2° (263 x 170mm). Engraved frontispiece and folding map, woodcut illustrations. (Frontispiece affected by damp and torn with slight loss at inner and lower margins, ragged tear at foot of title leading to partial loss of date, lower margins of text damaged by damp and very frayed, particularly in the earlier quires, L1 torn with partial loss to the two bottom lines of text, several other leaves torn with slight loss, deep though clean tears to P1 and S1, some soiling and staining.) Contemporary calf by 'T.K', EACH COVER WITH AN ELABORATE PEN-AND-INK DRAWING OF A BIBLICAL SCENE, heightened with graver, both designs within a broad frame of leaves and berries, and with title in a floral cartouche at head, spine in seven compartments with raised bands and gilt ruling, red and green morocco labels in two compartments, one lettered with title, the other lettered 'T.K. binder', the remaining compartments with repeated flower tool (neat repair at head of spine, joints rubbed and slightly splitting on upper cover, some scuff marks, corners bumped), contained in brown morocco box. Provenance : Robert Masters (1713-1798); William Cole (1714-1782) who has inscribed the title 'Wm. Cole Cantabr 1754' and who records, in Italian on OO2 recto, that he read the book on 7 December 1754 in his vicarage at Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, and that it was given to him by Robert Masters, fellow of Corpus Christi College ('Socio del Collegio di San Benedetto') when he was in Cambridge the previous October; Jane Cubbidge (19th-century ownership label over an earlier inscription). FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH, translated by Acton Cremer of Christ Church, in AN ATTRACTIVE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL PICTORIAL BINDING which looks forward to the more sophisticated achievements of Edwards of Halifax. The front cover shows 'Hagar in the Wilderness,' the angel appearing to show her the spring of water and rescue the child, while the reverse portrays 'Daniel in the Lion's Den.' The staining of the calf is darker round the border, adding to the effect of a frame. A blue wrapper has been used for the rear but not the front pastedown. Both the lettering-pieces and gilt tooling on the spine may have been added slightly later. Robert Masters, the book's first traceable owner, was a fellow and historian of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. William Cole the Cambridge antiquary, was rector of Bletchley, 1753-67, and is known to have given serious consideration to becoming a Roman Catholic. Madan 3023; Wing S-851A.