📚 A Journey Through Time: The Itinerary of John Leland and the Legacy of Ownership
- Marie
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 8
A Rare Book with a Remarkable Provenance
At Literary Treasures - we believe that books are more than printed pages - they are vessels of history. And sometimes, the story surrounding a book is just as captivating as its contents. One such example is our rare 1744 edition of The Itinerary of John Leland, which once belonged to Thomas Walpole, a prominent figure from one of Britain’s most distinguished literary and political families.
Who Was Thomas Walpole?
Thomas Walpole (1727–1803) was a British MP, banker, and diplomat, and a cousin of the celebrated writer and collector Horace Walpole. The Walpoles were deeply involved in the political and cultural fabric of 18th-century Britain. Horace Walpole is best known as the father of Gothic literature, author of The Castle of Otranto, and founder of the legendary Strawberry Hill House library.
Ownership by Thomas Walpole adds a rare and fascinating dimension to this already significant book. Provenance like this connects a work not just to the past, but to the very individuals who shaped it: people of influence, vision, and history.
Why Provenance Matters
In the world of antiquarian books, provenance, the documented ownership history of an item, is not just a footnote. It’s a key to understanding the book’s value, authenticity, and journey through time. A book once handled, annotated, or simply shelved by a historical figure becomes a living artefact, linking its owner’s story with the work itself.
When you own a book with distinguished provenance, you’re not only holding a piece of literary history, you’re stepping into a legacy.
John Leland: The First English Antiquary
The Itinerary of John Leland is an extraordinary work in its own right. Leland (c. 1503–1552) was appointed by Henry VIII to document the religious houses, libraries, monuments, and ruins across England and Wales. His work is the first of its kind; a literary and historical travelogue that provides invaluable insight into the English landscape before the Reformation swept it away.
This particular 1744 edition was published during a renewed wave of antiquarian interest in Britain, preserving and celebrating Leland’s efforts for a new generation. Bound in period leather, it is not only beautiful but also rare; a testament to the enduring value of Leland’s observations.
John Leland Itinerary 1744: More Than a Book: A Moving Artefact of Time
What makes this copy so special is not only the antiquity of the text or the elegance of its binding, it is the story of the book’s journey itself.
It was penned by a man galloping on horseback through 16th-century abbeys and castles.
It was later read and perhaps admired by Thomas Walpole, cousin to Horace, amidst the Enlightenment and early Romantic stirrings.
And now, centuries later, it rests in your hands, available to the next careful custodian.
Owning such a book is like owning part of the nation’s memory. It becomes not just an object, but an experience: one that weaves literature, politics, art, and human curiosity across generations.
A Tragic Twist in the Life of England’s First Antiquary
John Leland, often called England’s first antiquary, was commissioned by Henry VIII to survey monastic libraries and historic sites before their destruction. Racing across the country, he documented treasures that would soon vanish, preserving history just in time.
But tragically, Leland himself fell into madness in 1551 and died forgotten. His Itinerary remained unpublished for centuries, until scholars in the 18th century brought it back to light. This rare 1744 edition is part of that revival, a collectible antiquarian book that not only preserves England’s lost past, but honours the man who tried to save it.
Add This Rare Piece of History to Your Collection
If you are a collector, historian, or admirer of English heritage, this is a once-in-a-generation acquisition. The Itinerary of John Leland is a foundational text of English antiquarianism, and owning a copy with Walpole provenance elevates it to something truly exceptional.
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