A Display of Heraldry.

London: R. and J. Bonwicke and R. Wilkin, and J. Walthoe and Tho. Ward,, 1724. Imposing Georgian folio of heraldry Sixth edition, the "best edition of a work still in general use, and the best of that kind that was ever published" (Lowndes), justly described as such on account of the large number of new illustrations. This copy has the bookplate of John Malden, current Slains Pursuivant of Arms of Scotland and President of the Heraldry Society of Scotland. John Guillim's (1550-1621) work on heraldry was first published in 1610, and "was to remain the standard textbook on English heraldry until the second half of the eighteenth century, and it is still regularly used by working heralds in the twenty-first century" (ibid.). Folio (395 x 243 mm), pp. [x], 20, [2], 460, [4], 65, [1], 65-215, [1], 221-275, [1], 58, 24, [22] (complete, "table of the first section" bound preceding introduction). With 65 engraved plates, woodcut illustrations of arms throughout. Twentieth-century calf by Brian Frost & Company of Bath, spine gilt with red morocco label and gilt in compartments. Prospectus for Anthony R. Wagner's 1948 book Historic Heraldry of Britain tipped-in on initial blanks, 20th-century handwritten index to baronets tipped-in on rear blanks, prospectus for Julian Franklin's 1960 book Shield and Crest and Robert Gayre's 1959 book Heraldic Standards loosely inserted. Very light rubbing and a few marks to calf, some light toning and a few leaves with faint peripheral staining else contents clean. A very good copy. ESTC T140947; Lowndes 956.