1739 — FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT, MONUMENTAL, AND BEAUTIFULLY-PRODUCED HISTORY OF LONDON. viii, [7], 800, [14] pp plus folding frontispiece engraved view of London and 24 additional full-page engravings and etchings (three folding). COMPLETE. Laid in is the rarely-encountered folio broadside "An Account of the Number of Persons Dying at the Several Ages Undermentioned for Ten Years Past", printed in 1738 or 1739 (from which we learn, for example, that of 1000 children born alive, only 495 survived to age 9). In addition to the beautiful full-page plates, this volume is illustrated with numerous smaller engravings (depicting the gates of London, including the infamous Newgate Prison), over 100 woodcuts of the arms of the various guilds, and assorted typographical ornaments. Includes a lengthy account of the history of London, a description of all of the Churches (with hundreds of epitaphs, of notable and unknown people, given in full); a description of the politics, the commerce, the schools, the inns, the courts, the hospitals, the arts, the ale-houses, the alms-houses.... A complete listing of the streets. An extensive description of Westminster and nearby areas of Middlesex. Fully indexed. PRINTED ON FINE LAID PAPER, WITH LARGE MARGINS. Large folio. BEAUTIFULLY BOUND in recent quarter vellum and marbled boards. A few short, closed tears to the folding plates (no pieces missing), and some spots of foxing, else FINE AND BRIGHT. An extremely good copy of a rare and important book.
