Fuller – The Holy State. The Third Edition, 1652 – With The Profane State – 20 Engraved Portraits

FULLER, Thomas. The Holy State. The Third Edition. London: Printed by R. D. for John Williams, 1652. With The Profane State, separately titled but continuously paginated.

A celebrated preacher, historian and biographer, Fuller was among the wittiest and most prolific English writers of the seventeenth century. His lively combination of historical anecdote, psychological observation and memorable character sketches helped broaden the scope of English biographical writing. The Holy State and the Profane State, first published in 1642, is one of his most characteristic and enduringly readable works.

The first four 'books' describe exemplary figures in domestic, professional and public life—from the good wife, husband and physician to the soldier, schoolmaster, merchant and statesman. Fuller combines practical moral instruction with anecdote, humour and sharply observed character writing.

The fifth book, The Profane State, presents corresponding examples of vice and human failure. It has its own handsome letterpress title-page but forms an integral part of the work and continues the pagination.

Fuller illustrates his arguments through a succession of historical lives, accompanied in this edition by 20 engraved portraits by William Marshall, including Paracelsus, St Augustine, Hildegard of Bingen, Sir Francis Drake, Edward the Black Prince, Queen Elizabeth I and Joan of Arc.

Provenance

Inscribed “Wm Beresford,” probably the Rev. William Beresford (1740–1784), Rector of Sonning, and subsequently “Alleyne FitzHerbert 1843,” identifiable as Beresford’s grandson, the Rev. Alleyne FitzHerbert (1815–1860), Rector of Warsop. Beresford’s daughter Agnes married Sir Henry FitzHerbert, 3rd Baronet, suggesting that the volume passed through the Beresford–FitzHerbert family.

Further early ownership name “Dobson,” repeated in the margins, together with occasional annotations, underlining and reading marks in several hands.

Condition

Later full tan calf in a restrained retrospective style, the boards ruled to form a central panel with diagonal corner compartments and small foliate tools. Spine with raised bands, gilt decoration, contrasting red and black morocco labels, and the date in gilt at foot. Modern endpapers.

Binding firm and attractive, with surface scratches, scuffing and minor marks to the boards and light wear at the extremities. Letterpress title-page creased and somewhat worn at the margins. Contents generally well preserved, with variable toning, occasional spotting and soiling, some creasing and minor marginal wear. Scattered early annotations, underlining, reading marks and ownership inscriptions in ink and pencil.

Lacking the additional engraved title-page by William Marshall; otherwise complete, retaining all 20 engraved portraits and the separate title-page to The Profane State.

Bibliographic Note

Third edition. Folio. [8], 510 [i.e. 460] pp. 

The pagination contains numerous contemporary errors, as expected: numbers 190–199 and 395–434 are omitted from the sequence, together with other lesser irregularities; the text is nevertheless continuous and complete. The additional engraved title-page, dated 1648 and reused for this edition, is not present in this copy.

References

Wing F2445; ESTC R6571.