Heraldry/History of British Families—Only Copy Found!

The title page to this very scarce little work reads, "The Theatre of British Honours; Being an Account of the present Nobility, with what has happened remarkable to Them or their Ancestors. By the help of which may be known how to blazon a Coat. To which is prefix’d, a Preface concerning the Antiquity and Usefulness of Heraldry, and the Office of our English Heralds. London: Printed for A. Lea, and R. Glynn, at the Atlas and Hercules, over against Salisbury-Court in Fleetstreet, 1720."

This work is extremely scarce; I could find no other copies for sale on Internet listings, nor is it listed in ESTC or COPAC.

Though the idea of a nobility—dukes, counts, baronesses, earls, and so on—may seem archaic to us today, it is true that each society has its own kind of nobility (in some cases, politicians, athletes, and stage actors—perhaps not of the most edifying kind). Ancient English nobility was granted to those subjects who had shown particular courage and leadership in battle, or who had performed some outstanding service or act of loyalty to their sovereign. Giving these leaders their due recognition was the basis for the "laws of honor" and coats of arms that gradually evolved in English society. The science of creating and interpreting coats of arms for each family was known as heraldry.

Today most people have little idea what "heraldry" means. However, in medieval times it was regarded as one of the chief of the social sciences. Derek Wilson notes in his history of Henry VIII, "In all matters of chivalric protocol [the king] relied on the royal heralds, the officers of the College of Arms, an ancient body reconstituted by Richard III in 1483. The importance of this body in a highly stratified society can hardly be overemphasized. It possessed more than ceremonial significance and extended far beyond the allocation and verification of armorial devices to be carried in battle and the mock-battle of the joust….

"The heralds kept genealogical tables and were highly knowledgeable about the great families of the land and their labyrinthine interconnections. They were called upon to decide matters of precedence and inheritance and upon their verdict could hang not only a man’s prestige but also his wealth and his prospects for making an advantageous marriage. Heralds, like lawyers and scholars, possessed a specialist expertise potentially valuable to the Crown and their profession was an avenue leading to royal favour and patronage. They not infrequently became trusted couriers and diplomats and the senior members of the college enjoyed unrestricted access to the royal household."

The author of this work compares the art of heraldry in England to the role of ancient Athenians, who undertook the education of the young men of the country and taught them noble behavior. He also finds similarities with the Roman office of censor, which was responsible for a general survey and register of the value of the value of estates of Roman nobility, and also for inspection and censure of their manners.

The preface outlines the duties of a herald and the areas in which they are to be proficient: the arts of blazon, limning, and painting; the knowledge of plants, botany, constellations, and metallurgy; the ceremonies that accompany funerals and the bestowing of noble titles, and so on.

The author focuses on the nobility who lived during the latter part of the 1600s and early 1700s in England, giving not only a brief history of their life and parentage but also the history of their title, when it was bestowed and by whom, any interesting facts about the family history, and a description of immediate family members. He also includes the location of the homes ("seats") of these nobility and a brief description of their coats of arms.

For example, the following entry for the Duke of St. Albans:

Charles Beauclair, Duke of St. Albans, Earl of Burford, and Baron of Heddington, Captain of the Ban of Gentlemen-Pensioners, Lord Lieutenant and Custes Rotulorum of the County of Berks, and Kt. of the Garter.
Created Baron and Earl, the 28th and Duke the 35th of Charles II.
His Grace is the only Natural Son of the afroesaid King, by Madam Eleanor Gwin.
And married in 1694, the Lady Diana Vere, eldest Daughter and Co-heir to Aubrey de Vere, the 20th, and last Earl of Oxford of that Name, by whome he has had Issue seven Sons, viz. Charles Earl of Burford, Lord William, Lord Vere, Lord Henry, Lord Sidney, Lord James, and the Lord Aubery.

Chief Seat. At Windsor in the County of Berks, 20 m. from London.

His Arms. The Arms of his Father, with a Batoon, Sinister, G. charg’d with Three Roses Argent.

And the following entry for the Duke of Pembroke:

Thomas Herbert, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Baron Herbert of Cardiff, Ros of Kendal, Parr, Fitz hugh, Marmion, St. Quintin, and Herbert of Shurland, one of the Regency and Privy-Council, Fellow of the Royal Society, Kt. of the Garter, and one of the Governors of the Charter-House.
His Ancestor receiv’d the Honour of Baron the second of Edward the Fourth, and Earl the Eighth of that King’s Reign.
Belonging to this Family was Sir William Herbert Chief Justice and Chamberlain of South-Wales, and Kt. of the Garter, but afterwards beheaded at Northampton, by the Command of the Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, for opposing the Lancastrian Party in behalf of the King.
Thomas the present Earl married first Margaret, Daughter and sole Heir to Sir Robert Sawyer, Attorney General to King Charles II. by whom he had Issue six Sons and five Daughters, viz. Henry Lord Herbert, Robert, Charles, Thomas, William, and Nicholas, the Lady Catharine, eldest Daughter, married to Sir Nicholas Morris of Warrington in the County of Devon, Bart. and is since dead; the Lady Margaret, Lady Eliz. Lady Anne, and the Lady Rebecca.
His second Wife is Barbara, Widow of Richard Lord Arundel of Trerice, by whom he hath one Daughter, the Lady Barbara.

Chief Seats. At Cardiff and Carphilly Castles in Glamorganshire, at Wilton in the Country of Wilts, a m. from Salisbury, and 73 from London, at Falston in the same County, 4 m. from Marlborough, and 62 from London, and at Usk, Castion, and Newport-Castle, in the County of Monmouth.

His Arms. Perpale, Az. and G, Three Lions Rampant, Or.

This work includes the full listing of dukes, marquises, earls, barons, earls, viscounts, and archbishops, and also gives an account of the ceremonies that take place when each of these honors is bestowed on one of the king’s subjects.

There are no illustrations in this work (none called for), though there are some nice elaborate head- and tail-pieces, along with historiated first letters (see scans below).

Bound in the original sheepskin bindings, this book is in good condition. Though hinges are cracked, they are still holding firmly. Some bumping and rubbing to corners of covers. Slight (1/4") chipping of leather from bottom of spine. No decoration or lettering on cover, except for double rule around outer borders of covers. Some scratching to leather of back cover. No blank first pages. The title page was at some point cut, with a line in the middle of the page removed (a former owner’s signature?) and then expertly rebacked and replaced into the book, so it is slightly smaller than the other pages. Preface has 24 pages. Some owner’s writing on final blank page, as well as the final few pages of the book (see scans). All pages except front blank pages are present and tightly bound.

Book measures about 3" x 5" x 1/2" and has 160 pages of text, besides preface. NO RESERVE; winner pays postage for Priority Mail in US (more for international); see my end-of auction e-mail for specific rates and optional insurance. Satisfaction guaranteed. For other rare, unusual antiquarian books that begin at $9.99, see my auction listings.