FENN, JOHN Edited By Original Letters, Written During the Reigns of Henry VI Edward IV and Richard III By Various Persons of Rank or Consequence... Five Volumes , London: GGJ and J Robinson.

4to Francis Blomefield, author of 'An Essay towards a Topographical History of Norfolk...' 'when staying with his brother-in-law, rector of Oxnead, he caught a fever, and during convalescence was given the run of the evidence room of the Earl of Yarmouth, head of the Paston family...where he shut himself up for a fortnight, ...(and)... " sifted between thirty and forty chests of antique curiosities and eveidencies" and unearthed the Paston Letters. (Christopher Hussey) These came into the hands of Sir John Fenn, who, encouraged by Horace Walpole, brought out a selection of the letters in two volumes (1787) and added two further volumes (1789) before he died in 1794. He also left the text of a fifth volume which was edited by his nephew, William Frere in 1823 (this last published by John Murray). Although Volumes I & II appear reasonably frequently, it is unusual to find a set of all five. This one is bound in halfcalf, with raised bands, twin labels, gilt titles and ruling, marbled endpapers. Volume I: (1787) half title with engraved vignette of Caistor Tower - 2 coloured engravings, folding pedigree, plate of facsimile letters pp lxxiv; 301. Volume II:(1787) half title with vignette of Caister Tower, coloured engraved frontis,pp363+ 14plates showing autographs, papermarks, facsimile mss and seals. Volume III (1789) coloured frontis plate, half title with engraved vignette of Framlingham Castle pp xxxv; 451 inc. index + 7 plates autographs etc. (the 3 portrait plates are missing from this volume), Volume IV (1789) half title as in V III, bw engraved frontis portrait of Edward IV. ppxxxii 478 inc index + 5 plates autographs etc. Volume V (1823) Frontis portrait of Fenn, title page with engraved vignette of Paston Hall and Church.pp lxxiii; 5 engraved plates, 472 inc index + 6 plates autographs etc. front board to Volume V has been repaired; sporadic foxing and browning but some sections very bright and crisp, others not so to a varying degree. (Book ref. 27063)  £1000.00

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