The History of the Reformation and other Ecclesiastical Transactions in and about the Low-Countries, from the Beginning of the Eighth Century, Down to the Famous Synod of Dort, inclusive. In which all the Revolutions that happen'd in Church and State, on Account of the Divisions between The Protestants and Papists, The Arminians and Calvinists, are fairly and fully represented by the Reverend and Learned Mr. Gerard Brandt, late Professor of Divinity, and Minister to the Protestant Remonstrants at Amsterdam. Faithfully translated from the Original Dutch. 

London: Printed by T. Wood, for John Nicks, at the White-Hart at the West-End of St. Paul's Church-Yard. 1720 - 1723

Details:

• First Full English Edition
• An impressive large paper edition with very generous margins
• This type of edition was usually reserved for royalty, aristocracy, & high ranking clergy
• Nearly 46cm in length, this set is considerably larger than the usual 36-38cm length shown for copies held by institutions
• Fine copperplates by eminent engravers such as Jan Wandelaar, George Virtue, John Cole, etc. 
• This set is the first full English translation of all sixty-one books that comprise the work. Printing began in 1720 and continued to 1723 when the fourth and final volume was printed
• 14 Fine copperplates including frontis
• Head & Tail pieces
• Ornate initial letters
• Large Folio (455mm x 298mm)
• Bound in contemporary full marbled calf that appears almost golden when tilted towards sunlight
• Gilt pattern to outer edges and spine 
• Six raised bands
• Gilt decorated compartments
• Red speckled edges
• Red & black title-pages
• Printed margin notes
• Indexes
• List of subscribers
• Four volumes - complete

Volume I: [8] viii, [8], 481, 23, [1], [7] index, [1] errata

Volume II: [6], xiv, 590, [6], index

Volume III: [6], iv, 492, [7] index

Volume IV: [6], 553, [1], [6] index

Provenance:

Ink stamp of Philip Eyre Gell [shown as P. Gell] of Hopton Hall, Derbyshire to front paste-downs; ink stamp in the shape of a shield showing the greyhound family crest. Philip Eyre Gell (1723-1795) was a wealthy lead-mining aristocrat. 

Condition:

Overall condition: very good. All four volumes show wear to spine-ends and fore-corners, and cracked outer hinges. Boards range from wobbly to firm over the four volumes, with Volume IV boards being most wobbly with the rear boasrd being held by two chords. Blocks are sturdy and leaves are generally bright, crisp, and lightly age-goldened. Some minor flaws include pale to light foxing to some margins or an occasional isolated light spot or patch. More significant flaws: in Volume I there is a small area of worming to foot of lower inner margin from end-papers and title-page, which then rapidly diminishes through to p97 where there is no further trace; furthermore Volume I frontis and title-page show the most foxing over the four volumes, which becomes lighter until no more after the prelims, then resumes as light foxing to index section at rear; in Volume III there is a light water-stain to upper inner margin areas of some mid-leaves. Gilt mostly rubbed away from spines.

NB. The last leaf of the main text  in Volume I (p491 / 492) is actually a blank leaf with the text section pf p481 cut-out and pasted on the verso side, (as shown in photographs). The pasted on blank is original with the rest of the block as it has the same texture, colour, and chain-lines. 

This is an unusually fine example of this work in its original condition!