Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Statutes of the Most Honourble Order of the Bath [SIGNED]

London: 1787. Reprint. Hardcover. "Signed Francis Townsend, Windsor Herald, Deputy Bath King of Arms" on endpaper with ribbon attached (Windsor Herald from 1784–1819). Quarto. viii, 72pp., with original seal of the Windsor Herald depicting a knight in armor, with sword and shield, on his horse, coat of arms on verso, on burgundy silk ribbon attached to endpaper at rear. Rebacked retaining original full calf boards with decorative gilt ruling on covers. Marbled endpapers. Engraved device on title page featuring the motto of the order "Tria juncta in uno (Three joined in one)." Six page introduction on the "Creation of the most honourable Order of the Bath" by Bisse and Bray, followed by the Statutes of the most honourable Order of the Bath. With additional engraving of the Order's device and motto on page 15.

The Order of the Bath, British order of chivalry, was found on May 18, 1725 by George I. The ceremony requires participation in a vigil of fasting, prayer, and taking a bath on the day before one was made a knight. It is the fourth oldest of the British Orders of chivalry and it was abolished in 1815. Ex Libris of Paul H. Silverstone on inside front cover. Binding with some wear along edges, one by a quarter inch chip at lower right corner, with some loss of gilt decorative border, some small chips at back cover of retained board near spine. Starting but firm at inside covers. Some discoloration and sunning along edges of marbled endpapers. Some staining along edges of free endpaper holding ribbon and seal at rear. Some light chips and creasing of seal itself with images intact. Ribbon somewhat darkened in some places. Binding in overall good to good-, interior in very good condition. g- to vg. Item #46927

Francis Townsend was the author of "Catalogue of Knights, From 1660 to 1760," published by Harjette and Savill in London in 1833.

Price: $650.00