The Antient and Modern History of the Loyal Town of Rippon. GENT (Thomas).

The Antient and Modern History of the Loyal Town of Rippon: (Introduced by a Poem on the Surprizing Beauties of Studley-Park, with a Description of the venerable Ruins of Fountains-Abbey, written by Mr. Peter Aram; and another on the Pleasures of a Country Life, by a Reverend Young Gentleman). With Particular Account of Three of the Northern Saints in the Seventh Century, viz. St. Cuthbert, St. Winifred of Rippon, and St. John of Beverley [....] Adorned with many Cuts, preceded by a South West Prospect (and a New Plan) of Rippon. Besides are Added, Travel into other Parts of Yorkshire [....] To which is subjoin'd, by the Author of The Country Life, A Letter to the Hon. John Aislabie Esq, The Happy Reign; an Eclogue. And a Latin Copy of Verses, with a Translation on the Renowned Grotto of Queen Caroline.

Folding woodcut frontispiece (two old repairs and small loss at one fold) and woodcuts throughout the text, some full-page.

First Edition. 8vo. [210 x 125 x 20 mm]. xvi, [ii], 165, [1], 46, 49-73, [7] pp. Bound c.1800 in calf, the covers with a blind roll border. The spine divided into six panels with raised bands, lettered in gilt in the second and dated at the foot, the others with blind tooling, plain brown endleaves, sprinkled edges (a little rubbed).
York: printed, and sold at the Printing-Office [of Thomas Gent], over against the Star in Stone-Gates; as also by T. Hammond, Bookseller in High-Ouze-Gate. Likewise by F. Routh, in Rippon; J. Ross, in Knaresborough; G. Ferraby in Hull; A. Bettesworth and G. Fitch, at the Red-Lion in Pater-Noster-Row, London, 1733

Without the two plates of the S.W. Prospect of All Saints Church and the Ruins of St. Mary's Abbey, which are often missing. With the final 7pp of advertisements, times and rates of carriages, and list of subscribers. A few light spots and stains but a very good copy of one of the most eccentric and charming of English illustrated books. The 78 woodcuts come in all shapes and sizes and are unhindered by scale or perspective. The work was printed by Thomas Gent (1693-1778), who surprisingly omits his name from the imprint. He does acknowledge that it was "Faithfully and painfully collected" by himself, and it is the earliest published account of Rippon. Along with his histories of York (1730) and Hull (1735) it is "no mere compilation from earlier writers, but full of minute examples of personal observation and research, and contains many description of objects now lost" (to paraphrase ODNB).

Stock no. ebc7047