THE SAXON CHRONICLE
First edition in modern English of the complete ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE, a key historical document of the Early Medieval era composed during the reign of Alfred the Great.
Near fine.
Price: $5,000.00
THE SAXON CHRONICLE
"[T]he Saxon Chronicle contains the original and authentic testimony of contemporary writers to the most important transactions of our forefathers, both by sea and land, from their first arrival in this country to the year 1154." – preface
First compiled in Old English in the 9th century, the CHRONICLE is primarily a collection of annals that provide, in many cases, the only surviving documentation for events of the Early Medieval period. It is a substantial source for Alfred's fight against Viking aggressions, including the first recorded mention of a Viking raid: the infamous attack on the island monastery at Lindisfarne. Indeed, the hundreds of years of annals in this work provide many details about Viking culture, such as their unique ring-oaths; the deeds of their famous heroes; and the exploits of Cnut, who temporarily united Denmark, England and Norway into one North Sea Empire.
While partial editions in modern English were printed before this (Ingram notes "the honour of having printed the first literal version of the Saxon Annals was reserved for a learned Lady," meaning Anna Gurney's translation of 1819), this edition is the first to contain a complete modern English translation of the CHRONICLE, from a collation of the 9 surviving manuscripts, printed side-by-side with the Old English text. Many of Ingram's historical footnotes are also valuable, though others show clear nationalistic purpose. In addition to the folding map of Britain, it contains three full-page plates of coins and a facsimile engraving of a leaf from one of the surviving manuscripts. A near-fine copy of a major work about the Early Medieval period.
The Object
London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Reese, Orme, and Brown, 1823. 10.5'' x 8''. Nineteenth-century full vellum tripled-ruled in red and gilt, red morocco spine label, spine ruled and ornamented in gilt. Marbled endpapers, all edges stained red. Engraved folding frontispiece map of Saxon Britain and five full-page engravings. Text printed in double columns of Anglo-Saxon and modern English side by side. Half title present, Anglo-Saxon grammar following preface, chronology and indices at rear. [4], 463, [1] pages. Nineteenth-century stamp of James Pamplin, a bookseller in Winchester, on verso of front endpaper. Plates lightly foxed with some offsetting and foxing on facing pages.
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