Add MS 78660

EVELYN PAPERS. Vol. CCCCXCIII. `Extracts from the Monumenta Britannica of John Aubrey Esqr in M.S.'; 18th cent. (aft. 1761). Copies in a single hand, with place names in red ink and illustrated by careful pen, ink and wash plans and drawings, some on folding leaves, with chapter and page references to the originals. A further explanatory note on the title-page reads, `It is Entitled Monumenta Britannica, or a Miscellany of British Antiquitys, Illustrated with the Notes of Dr Tho Gale, & John Evelyn Esqr. It consists of 4 Parts or Volumes in thin Folio'. Not an exact copy of Aubrey's autograph draft in the Bodleian Library. With a preface in the same hand as the rest of the manuscript about Aubrey's life, from his Natural History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey (1718-9), and about his intentions to publish the manuscript, from Thomas Warton's Life and Literary Remains of Ralph Bathurst (1761). On the evidence of the printed sale catalogue entry pasted inside the front cover, this volume was added to the Evelyn library by purchase in the 19^th cent., probably because of the reference to Evelyn’s notes on the title-page. With the pencilled press-mark, `MS.2.8.(1)’. Formerly Evelyn MS 140.

220 x 180mm.