Add MS 52613

WILLIAM STUKELEY, 'OF CAESAROMAGUS CHELMERSFORD. A LETTER TO CHARLES GRAY ESQR. JULY 16 1751'. Autograph fair copy, followed (f. iii) by inserted notes on the text in another hand, evidently relating to a proposed but apparently never accomplished publication of the 'Letter', aft. 1757. An account of the Roman antiquities of Essex, etc., by Stukeley sent to Gray, M.P. for Colchester, who acknowledged Stukeley's letter, 22 July 1751. See The Family Memoirs of William Stukeley, ed. W. C. Lukis, ii, Surtees Soc., lxxvi, 1883,

p. 159. Makes considerable use of C. J. Bertram's literary imposture, the 'De situ Britanniae of Richard of Cirencester', which was first publicized through Stukeley's uncritical acceptance of it. See Ricardi de Cirencestria Speculum Historiale, ed. J. E. B. Mayor, Rolls Series, ii, 1869, pp. xvii-clxiv. Illustrated with drawings of antiquities and coins from his and others' collections, in grey wash or ink, passim. Includes on ff. 25b-26 an engraved map by Stukeley, of 'Ischalis' (Ilchester), to a scale of '100 Paces' to 48mm. [approx. 1:1250] with a compass rose (North-East at top), showing roads, rivers, houses, public buildings and orchards, the 'Track of the Roman Wall' and other antiquities, 17 Aug. 1723. Armorial bookplate of Stukeley on f. ii. Belonged to the St John family, of Dinmore, co. Heref., Stukeley's descendants; their sale at Sotheby's, 15 July 1924, part of lot 274. Quaritch, cat. 859, 1965, no. 27, in which the binding is wrongly described as vellum.

Paper; ff. iv+41. 207 x 165mm. 1751. Binding of green and gilt decorated paper on boards.