Original Letters, Written during the Reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV And Richard III. By various Persons of Rank or Consequence; Containing Many curious Anecdotes, relative to that turbulent and bloody, but hitherto dark, Period of our History

Original Letters, Written during the Reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV And Richard III. By various Persons of Rank or Consequence; Containing Many curious Anecdotes, relative to that turbulent and bloody, but hitherto dark, Period of our History; And Elucidating, not only Public matters of State, but likewise the Private Manners of the Age: Digested in Chronological Order; With Notes, Historical and Explanatory; And Authenticated by Engravings of Autographs, Paper Marks, and Seals. Edited by John Fenn.

Illustrated with 3 engraved, hand-colored plates, a large folding table and numerous engraved facsimiles of the letters, seals, autographs, and marks. 4to. Original vellum-backed gray boards. London, Printed for G.G.J. and J. Robinson 1787. First Edition. Two volumes.

The Paston Letters are a collection of letters and papers consisting of the correspondence of members of the Paston family of Norfolk, and others connected with them, between the years 1422 and 1509. They also include various state papers and other important documents.

They are arguably the most important extant primary source material concerning English life in the 15th century. In 1787 John Fenn published a selection of the letters in two volumes. In 1789 he published two additional volumes, and when he died in 1794 he had prepared a fifth volume, which was published in 1823 by his nephew. In 1787 Fenn presented the originals of his first two volumes to King George III, and shortly afterwards received a knighthood.

Boards slightly scuffed; 1-inch split to top vellum joint; some minor foxing and offsetting; o/w a fine untrimmed copy in original boards, with very wide margins suggestive of a large-paper copy. Scarce.