Ancient, British and World Coins and Banknotes

Nicolson, W., The English Historical Library…giving a Short View and Character of most of our Historians…with an Account of our Records, Law-Books, Coins and other Matters Serviceable to the Undertakers of a General History of England, 2nd edn, London, 1714, xviii + 272pp. Rebound in brown leather by Period Bookbinders 1986, ribbed and gilt spine; attractive binding, contents clean and fresh (£80-100)

An amusing, if somewhat critical read; the author, who clearly had a penchant for the Irish series, includes lines like “The state of Henry the Eighth’s Money was, like his Mind and Humour, very changeable and uncertain”