Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials, John W. Papworth (edited by Alfred W. Morant)
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Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials, John W. Papworth (edited by Alfred W. Morant) — 1977 Facsimile Edition
Publication: Bath, Five Barrows, 1977
Formatting: 8vo, pp. [xxii], 1125.
Condition Report: Near Fine. The binding remains remarkably tight and square, featuring crisp, unmarked red boards and bright, unoxidised gilt tooling to the spine that is completely devoid of the dulling typical of 1970s facsimiles. The corners are sharp with only the faintest suggestion of rubbing, and the spine ends show trivial bumping that does not detract from the volume's shelf presence. Internally, the pages are exceptionally clean, bright, and free from foxing or previous ownership markings, with the text block edges showing only very minor, uniform age-toning consistent with the paper stock.
Catalogue Note: This 1977 edition, published by Five Barrows, is a superb facsimile of the original 1874 T. Richards edition, an essential cornerstone of any serious heraldic library. This particular reprint is notable for the inclusion of a scholarly introduction by J. P. Brooke-Little, then Richmond Herald of Arms, adding crucial modern context to Papworth's monumental Victorian undertaking.
The volume retains the distributor's sticker for Heraldry Today of Beauchamp Place, London, an esteemed, now-closed specialist bookseller that long served as the epicentre for British genealogical and heraldic research. While various facsimile editions of Papworth have been produced, most notably by Tabard in 1961 and Heraldry Today in 1985, this 1977 Bath imprint is relatively uncommon on the open market, particularly in such well-preserved condition.
Blurb: Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials remains the standard and most comprehensive reference work for identifying an unknown British coat of arms. Distinct from an 'armory,' which lists arms alphabetically by family name, an 'ordinary' categorises arms systematically by their central charges and geometric patterns, allowing researchers to work backward from a visual blazon to discover the family to which it belongs. Compiled over decades by architect John W. Papworth and completed by Alfred W. Morant, this colossal undertaking documents over 100,000 coats of arms. It is an indispensable tool for historians, genealogists, antiquarians, and anyone seeking to decipher the heraldic legacy of Great Britain and Ireland.
Book Condition: Near Fine
Book Authors: John W. Papworth; Alfred W. Morant
Book Publisher: Five Barrows
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Non-Fiction
Genre: History
Book edition:
Signed: No
Book Pages: 1125
Book Publication Year: 1977
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Hardcover
Illustrator: N/A
Book Series: N/A
Country/region of manufacture: Bath, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| New | A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage. |
| As New | The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years. |
| Fine | The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked. |
| Near Fine | The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition. |
| Very Good | The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present. |
| Good | A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy. |
| Fair | A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity. |
| Poor | A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance. |
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