Although George II presented the old Royal Library to the newly founded British Museum in 1757, a small number of books appear to have been kept back from this gift. In 1760 these passed into the possession of George II’s grandson and successor, George III; they remain in their original bindings. Burnet, the son of an Aberdeen lawyer, was a popular preacher and at one time chaplain to Charles II. His opposition to Catholicism, in the last years of Charles II’s reign when both the King and his brother (later James II) were supporters of ‘popery’, led to his final dismissal and retirement to the continent. Burnet wrote several biographical works and a history of the Reformation, but his best-known publication was his History of his own Time. This copy of volume I appears to have been bound for George II when Prince of Wales (1714-27), as may be seen by the label of difference on the coat of arms, by the initials GP (Georgius Princeps; Prince George) and the Prince of Wales’s motto Ich Dien (I serve), incorrectly spelt. This is an example of a panel binding, the frames produced by the use of roll tools. The three main frames use the same tool, a series of longer ‘hyphens’ topped with a shorter one, used back to back on the outer frame and on the outer edge of the two inner frames. The floral roll used on the inner frame has as recurring features, a sun (with a face), an anthemion and a daisy; a similar roll tool was used on bindings done for the library of Robert (1661-1724) and Edward (1689-1741) Harley, Earls of Oxford. This binding also shows another, earlier example of the pyramid-shaped decorations that occur on the Desaguliers binding on the sides of the middle frame, which have been built up using only three different tools. The floral lozenges on the corners of the middle frame were also a popular mode of decoration.

Catalogue entry adapted from George III & Queen Charlotte: Patronage, Collecting and Court Taste, London, 2004

After p. 482, a pamphlet has been tipped in, entitled: His Majesties most gracious speech to both Houses of Parliament : on Wednesday the 15th of December, 1650.

Binding information

Contemporary red goatskin binding, with gold-tooling on both sides and spine.

Design identical on both boards: outer triple fillet border, surmounted by a dotted roll; inner ‘panel’ formed of triple fillet and dotted roll, loop and cross roll and single fillet and dotted roll surmounted by a decorative roll of circular vines filled with sun-heads, flower-heads and palm leaves; on each of the outer sides, a triangular motif of looping gouges intersected with ‘hanging’ flower-steams; each of the four outer corners of the panel surmounted by a triangular vine tool and diamond-shaped fleuron. In the centre, the arms of George II as Prince of Wales, surrounded by the garter, surmounted by a crown and lion with a Tudor rose and thistle to either side, flanked by a crowned lion and unicorn supporters standing on a semi-circular plinth with the motto: ‘ICH DEIN’ [sic]. To either side of the uppermost lion, the initials ‘GP’.

Spine divided into eight compartments by raised bands, each tooled the same decorative roll of circular vines filled with sun-heads, flower-heads and palm leaves as the sides, now very worn. Second compartment contains an additional piece of green leather, gold-tooled with a triple fillet border and the title: ‘BURNET’S / HIST. OF HIS / OWN TIME. / VOL. 1’. All other compartments tooled with a triple fillet border, vine corner tools and a central diamond-shaped design formed of several tools including a sunburst, vines, acorns and fleurons. Head and tail of spine tooled with fillets and a decorative roll of circular vines filled with sun-heads, flower-heads and palm leaves.

Contemporary marble endpapers; all edges gilt.