An Essay to Heraldry 1689

It would appear that two different titles by Blome were first published a year apart, and both appear in later editions; The Art of Heraldry first published by Briscoe in 1683, and this, An Essay to Heraldry, first published “by London T B for Rich Blome and sold by him at his Lodgings at Mr Conines next the hanging Sword in Salisbury Court', 1684” both subtitled In Two Parts. One of the most charming of all early heraldic treatises, explaining with copious engraved illustrations, the heraldic significance of pictorial imagery encountered in English coats-of-arms.

Missing the title page, but handwriting on first page has notation saying 1689, 3rd printing. Octavo,10.5cm x 16cm, 243 pp plus ‘An Alphabetical TABLE of the NAMES of the NOBILITY and GENTRY, whose COATS are made use of for Paterns of BEARINGS in this Treatise of HERALDRY’ Original full leather with floral motif stamped on each corner of front and back cover, title in ink on spine. Engraved allegorical frontispiece, 52 Engraved plates depicting the many pictorial representations in heraldry e.g. animals, military etc; also text wood-engravings. Epistle dedicatory by Richard Blome to the honourable Sir Henry Goodrick of Ribston Park in Yorkshire, Knight and Baronet.

Missing title page reads: An Essay to Heraldry In Two Parts. The First Containing the Body of Heraldry: The Second, Honour Civil and Military; Being a Treatise on the Nobility and Gentry of England. According to the Laws and Customs of our Realm.

Part I consists of Chapters 1 – 9, part 1 ends of p 219.

Part II is titled ‘An Essay to HONOUR CIVIL According to the LAWS of ENGLAND. With Examples of the Atchivements of each Degree of Honour: And for the better explanation thereof one Example of each Degree is Blazoned: Which method is to be observed to all others’.

There follows Chapter 10 and then listings for the achievements of the King, the Prince, Dukes, Marquisses, Earls etc.

BLOME, RICHARD (d. 1705), a publisher and compiler of some celebrity, (and cartographer, ed.) who by the aid of subscriptions adroitly levied, issued many splendid works. Originally he was a ruler of paper, and afterwards a kind of arms painter. Wood says he practiced for divers years progging tricks, in employing necessitous persons to write in several arts and to get contributions of noblemen to promote the work. Wood likewise remarks: 'This person Bloome is esteemed by the chiefest heralds a most impudent person, and the late industrious Garter (Sir W. D[ugdale]) hath told me that he gets a livelihood by bold practices.' He is no doubt the Richard Blome of the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Middlesex, gentleman, who, 'being weak and not well of body,' made his will on 7 May 1705. He desired to be buried in the church of Harlington, near Uxbridge. He left small legacies (40s. in all) to the poor of Harlington and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. The residue of his estate, including 'bookes, coppyes,' passed to Mrs. Jane Hilton. The will was proved at London on 22 Oct. 1706 by Jane Hilton, the sole executrix. DNB: Vol. 05.

Condition: Binding tight but front cover is coming loose, leather on back board is torn, and boards generally pockmarked. End papers slightly stained and some slight staining to some internal pages. First page torn where front cover is coming loose. Otherwise clean and good. Book plate for Revd. Wm. Ed. Lord, D. D. on inside of front cover. Motto: Fortis in Arduis. Written there in pencil: 2/6 and 15/- crossed out.

Note in ink on ffep gives date etc. On the following page is written: ‘arms are nimina bifibilia (??). Xxxx of arms in England began about xx year 1274 i.e. beginning of E1 reign. V. xxx Worthy p47’. Some more writing in ink on inside of rear end papers.

Please note that this book will be posted from the UK