This is the earliest and one of the best English county histories. It is the work of Sir William Dugdale (1605-86) who spent upwards of twenty years researching the book. Gough states ‘it must stand at the head and shoulders of all our county histories’. The work is also notable for providing a large number of plates by the famous contemporary engraver Wenceslaus Hollar including one on page 520 of Shakespeare’s monument. In preparation Dugdale traversed every inch of Warwickshire. The book describes each hundred. There is also a considerable amount of information about the pedigrees of the counties notable families, accounts of the places in the county and religious information. They are noted for the remarkable accuracy, and unusually are sourced to other authorities. Provenance: with bookplates of the bibliophile Thomas Weld (1750–1810), Lulworth Castle; likely sold at auction Sotheby’s 19 October 1929; bookplate of Victor Hilton, Pencombe Hall pasted inside upper cover; private English collection. ESTC R4379; Lowndes (1864) III:687; Upcott (1968) 1247-59; Wing (1945-51) D2479.