[HARRIS, JOHN (c.1667-1719)]. The History of Kent. In five parts. Containing, I. An Exact Topography or Description of the County. II. The Civil History of Kent. III. The Ecclesiastical History of Kent. IV. The History of the Royal Navy of England. V. The Natural History of Kent. London: Printed and sold by D. Midwinter, at the Three Crowns in St. Paul's Church-Yard. MDCCXIX [1719].
Hardcover. First edition. Complete in one volume. Full leather. Thick folio (2°) (400 x 270 mm), pp. [2] portrait frontispiece facing title-page, [1] blank, iii dedication, [1] blank, iv - preface, ii - ode to Kent, iv - list of subscribers, 592, xl - index. Signatures: [ ]² A² a-c² B-Z⁴ ²A-⁴F⁴ ⁴G-⁴Q². Contemporary paneled calf, at one time rebacked. Spine with six raised bands. Compartments fully gilt ruled and tooled. Red morocco lettering-piece. English text in double columns. Illustrated with 43 fine engravings (35 double-page views and 1 single-page view of important Kentish houses; 1 extra-large plate a panoramic view of Rochester between p.250-251; 2 diagrammatic plates; 4 double-page maps). Head- and tail-pieces. Decorative capitals. Shoulder notes. Small illustrations in the text. Genealogical tree. Initial and terminal blanks present. Armorial bookplate of William John Mercer to front pastedown. Condition: FAIR to GOOD. Lacking the large armorial county map but otherwise complete. Upper cover detached. Some rubbing and bumping to extremities. Contents lightly browned. Couple of marginal repairs. Mark to fore edge. Plates largely very good, some with minor creases. Scarce.
Note: This magnificent illustrated history was never to be completed in Harris's lifetime - it was published posthumously shortly after his death in 1719. As such this work only covers the first three sections mentioned in title. Regardless, it is much prized today for the sumptuous plates and maps which provide us with a picture of Kent at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The views of the great Kentish houses, by Kip and Badeslade, which utilize the birds-eye projection, show not only the house and gardens in detail but the countryside around and its cultivation. The great map of the county by Parker, within the coats of arms of the noblemen and gentry is, probably, the most splendid and decorative ever printed but unfortunately lacking in this example. The Map of Romney Marsh is also a rarity. This book is becoming very hard to find complete as the value of this type of illustration has caused most copies to be broken up. [ESTC: N7830].
