This copy of Diana of George of Montemayor printed in 1598 by Edm. Bollifant has seen better days and will making a trip to the Conservation Lab soon. Luckily, I had a chance to photograph the multiple exciting things happening with this book!
This is the first time I have come across hinged end sheets with vellum hinges! The sewing supports have come apart freeing the front end sheets from the text block. The thread is still intact though which is pretty cool! The text block fore edges were splattered with red paint and you can see where some got on the vellum hinge on the back end sheets. A previous reader wrote on the front end sheet: "I see a foole and a foole sees me but I never saw such a foole til I saw thee." Probably the best marginalia I have come across yet! Multiple women's signatures are at the front of the book as well.
Diana of George of Montemayor is a pastoral romance about Diana, a shepherdess, and how she mistakenly believes her first love is dead thus marrying another. But then her first husband returns! So much drama! Makes me want to read it!
-Jillian FOLIO PQ6414 .A35 1598