[Thomas Cooper] — Thesaurus Linguae Romanae Et Britannicae

[London], [Henry Denham], c1578. Leather. An early edition of Thomas Cooper's monumental Elizabethan Latin-English dictionary, in a full reverse calf binding. In a later reverse calf binding.  The present copy is bound without the first three leaves, including the title page, and therefore definitive identification of the edition is not possible.  This copy is also bound without the final four leaves.  Most likely the 1578 edition, the third edition of Cooper's celebrated dictionary, following the first edition of 1565 and the second of 1573.  Typography, collation and physical characteristics are most consistent with the 1578 printing by Henry Denham. ESTC No.: S107261 Signatures: : [¶]4-6 A-Y6 2A-2Y6 3A-3Y6 4A-4Y6 5A-5Y6 6A-6V6 7D-7O6 7P4; lacking [¶]1-3 and 7Q1-4. A monumental 16th century Latin-English dictionary, commonly known as Cooper's Dictionary, combining a comprehensive Latin vocabulary with English equivalents and extensive quotations and phrases from classical authors. Followed by the substantial Dictionarium Historicum et Poeticum, devoted to proper names, historical and mythological figures, peoples, cities, mountains and other geographical and literary names. Thomas Cooper (c.1517-1594) was an English lexicographer, theologian and churchman educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. He had earlier revised and enlarged Sir Thomas Elyot's Latin-English dictionary before producing his own greatly expanded Thesaurus in 1565. This work became Cooper's most celebrated publication. In a later reverse calf binding. Externally, generally smart. Bound without the first three leaves, including the title page, and without the final four leaves. Rubbing and bumping to extremities, resulting in minor loss to calf, more so to corners. Shelf label to tail of spine. Spotting and discolouration to calf with rubbing and slight surface loss. Slight losses and cracking to joints towards the head and tail. Light scattered spotting to endpapers. Bookplate of Wakefield School Library to front paste down. Front hinge strained with wear to gutter. The odd minor ink mark to verso of rear free endpaper. Internally, generally firmly bound. First and last few leaves are considerably worn, with extensive creasing, closed tears, and marginal chipping. Pages generally age-toned but bright, with scattered spotting, foxing, handling marks and the occasional stain. The odd contemporary or early manuscript annotation, pen marks and underlining, particularly to the preliminary leaves. Good . Ill.: None. Good .