1819 Memoirs Illustrative of The Life and Writings of John Evelyn Esq Author of Sylva

Description

Early Edition, Fine Binding, Illustrated

With a frontispiece to both volumes, one portrait of John Evelyn and one of his wife Mary, and ten further plates. Including a double page spread pedigree chart of the Evelyn family, two engravings showing interior and exterior of 'Wotton Church, Surrey', engraving depicting a view of the burial place of the Evelyn family, double page spread engraving of Wotton in Surry, the seat of John Evelyn, an engraved portrait of Meliora Retinete, double page spread map of Deptford, 1623 from an original pen and ink sketch by John Evelyn, a sketch of John Evelyn's house, portrait of Sir Edward Nicholas, secretary of King Charles I and II, and a portrait of Sir Richard Browne, ambassador for King Charles I and II to the court of France. Collated, complete. John Evelyn was an avid writer. His diary spanned the majority of his adult life, which covered several famous events from 1640 to 1706. Despite the entries not being daily, they are a useful contemporary source at a time where there were few regular magazines or newspapers. In the diary he includes the execution of Charles I, Oliver Cromwell's rise and death, the Great Plague and the subsequent Great Fire of London. Contemporaneously, Evelyn was known for his knowledge of trees. His 'Sylva' entered many editions during his lifetime. With the bookplate of Thomas Tylston Greg and his wife Mary Hope to the front pastedowns. Thomas Tylston Greg was born to a mill-owning family in Manchester and pursued a legal career. He penned a work on wine called 'Through a Glass Lightly'.