The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII to the Death of George II – Henry Hallam

The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII to the Death of George II. By Henry Hallam. London: Printed from John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1860. Tenth Edition. In three volumes.

Complete. Elegant contemporary polished calf, covers with gilt double fillets and blind stippled border, raised bands, spines elaborately gilt stamped in compartments featuring extensive scrolling floral cornerpieces and very intricate fleuron centerpiece, maroon and brown morocco labels, beautifully marbled edges and endpapers. Small surface tear to rear endpaper of Vol III. Corners of first few leaves slightly creased, isolated light marginal soiling, trivial imperfections to the bindings. Fine. Handsome copy, without any perceivable wear, and virtually as new internally. Size 7 x 5 in. English language.

An Oxford graduate and trained in the law, Henry Hallam (1777-1859) was a voracious reader of books from the age of four, and his wealth enabled him to devote himself to a lifetime of scholarly pursuits. He authored a trilogy of massive historical studies that included, “The State of Europe during the Middle Ages,” “The Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries,” and the present title. Having in 1818 terminated the English portion of his “Middle Ages” with the reign of Edward IV and the War of Roses, the persistent Hallam launched into this new opus (completed in 1827), which continued his study of English constitutional history. His best-known and most influential work, this book covers the Tudor and Stuart periods and terminates with the reign of George II, since he, as the author writes in his preface, wished to avoid the controversial study of his own times. Learned in the study of original documents, Hallam applies his scholarship of constitutional matters and religious controversies, devoting most of the second volume to the era of the Great Rebellion.