Main Content
Summary
Author: Horsley, John
Title: Britannia Romana : or the antiquities of Britain ; in three books. The I. contains the history of all the Roman transactions in Britain ... II. Contains a compleat collection of the Roman inscriptions and sculptures which have hitherto been discovered in Britain ... III. Contains the Roman geography of Britain (etc).
Publication: London, "printed for John Osborn and Thomas Longman, at the Ship in Pater-noster Row" 1732.
Price: £0
Reference: 10047
Full Description
Folio. (8) + xxxii + (524) (numbered 1-355 + (1) + 353-520) + (40)pp, (105) engraved plates (including a sequence of plates of sculptures and inscriptions numbered I-7, 7A, 7B, 8-76, the remaining plates being maps (of which 5 are double-page) or plans). Contemporary full panelled calf, cracked at hinges. From the library of the Earls of Macclesfield, with engraved armorial bookplate dated 1860, and embossed armorial blindstamp at top of first two leaves, as customary with books from this library. Eighteenth century ink ownership inscription of F.Chute (?) on title leaf. A good, clean copy.
First and only edition of this admirable book on Roman Britain, notable for its author's well-organised text, sound judgment and personal knowledge of the forts and milecastles along Hadrian's Wall, as well as for its extensive illustrations of surviving Roman sculptures and inscribed altars and tombstones. Horsley (c.1685-1732), a nonconformist minister and schoolmaster in Morpeth, Northumberland, had been collecting material for a history of Roman Britain for some years, but began active preparation of the present book in 1727, corresponding with other antiquaries interested in the subject, including William Stukeley, Roger Gale and Dr John Ward, and inspecting relevant inscriptions in London, Bath and Sir Robert Cotton's summerhouse at Conington, Huntingdonshire. He lived to compose the book's dedication, dated 2 January 1731/2, but died suddenly of a stroke on 12 January before printing of the book was completed, and it was not until after his death that he got proper recognition for his scholarly achievement.