Laneham’s Letter … Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle 1575 … 1822.

Size: 7 5/16 x 4 3/4 in. 

This book by Robert Laneham (also Robert Langham) is titled Laneham’s Letter Describing the Magnificent Pageants Presented Before Queen Elizabeth, at Kenilworth Castle: in 1575, Repeatedly Referred to in the Romance of Kenilworth, it was printed and published in Philadelphia in 1822 by Hickman & Hazzard, and it is about Queen Elizabeth spending 19 days at Kenilworth Castle in the summer of 1575, where Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, spent lavish amounts of money - L60,000 - to entertain and woo the queen in hopes that she would marry him, and it didn’t work. She was treated to specialty pageants featuring an Italian acrobat, firework displays, and bear-baiting, where bears were tormented and attacked by dogs, and none of it worked - nada. 

The book is 3/4 bound, with five raised bands, a maroon label with gilt lettering and gilt decorations on the spine, marbled boards, marbled endpapers, the title page followed by an Introductory Preface (iii - xvi), a dedication letter to the Queen’s Majesty written in 1575, 93 pages of text and Glossarial and Explanatory Notes that run from 94 to 114, and the book is considered to be the first American edition of this title.  

The book measures 7 5/16 x 4 3/4 inches wide and is in good condition. The binding is tight, the pages and text are pretty clear, with light fading on the spine, light wear on the crown, rubbing on the leather on front and back, a penciled note on the first blank endpaper and last blank endpaper, mild offset, and brown spots here and there.  

We found only one copy of this title listed online, and a great look at the life and woos of Queen Elizabeth.  

#6160