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Life of Cardinal Wolsey 1724 1st Ed Folio Richard Fiddes Leather Illustrated Tudor
 
The 1724 The Life of Cardinal Wolsey, cataloged bibliographically as ESTC T76228, is one of the earliest, most important, and historically significant large-format biographical printings of the early Georgian era. Printed in London by John Barber, this massive volume famously broke away from centuries of Protestant condemnation to deliver the first major, sympathetic defense of Henry VIII’s powerful Lord Chancellor. This 1724 printing is highly prized by antiquarians because of its lavish production values, its celebrated suite of copperplate engravings, and its extensive attached "Collections" of primary historical Tudor documents. Crucially, it serves as a major milestone in English historiography, famously sparking intense political controversy and accusations of "popery" upon its release due to its high-church Tory patronage. ESTC T76228 | Folio (14 × 9 1/4 inches | 35.56 × 23.495 cm).
 
The Rise and Ruin of the "Other King":
Richard Fiddes’ 1724 masterwork offers a sweeping look into the life of Thomas Wolsey, the butcher's son who rose to become a Cardinal, Lord Chancellor, and the absolute architect of Tudor England. At the peak of his power, Wolsey wielded such immense political and religious authority that foreign diplomats called him the alter rex, the "other king." However, the turning point in both Wolsey's life and English history came with King Henry VIII’s desperate quest for a male heir and his obsession with Anne Boleyn. Tasked with securing a papal annulment from Catherine of Aragon, a legal and theological battle known as the "King's Great Matter", Wolsey found himself trapped between a stubborn Pope and a volatile monarch. When his sophisticated diplomatic maneuvering ultimately failed to deliver the divorce, Wolsey was brutally stripped of his offices, divested of his immense wealth (including Hampton Court Palace), and exiled. He died in 1530 while traveling under arrest toward the Tower of London to face charges of high treason.
 
A Controversial Eighteenth-Century Milestone:
What makes this 18th-century folio uniquely valuable to collectors is how it tells this tragic story. Writing nearly two centuries after the Cardinal's death, Fiddes boldly challenged centuries of Protestant bias that had painted Wolsey as a purely evil, power-hungry villain. Instead, Fiddes presents Wolsey as a brilliant but tragic statesman caught in the crosshairs of royal desire. To prove his point, Fiddes loaded the back of the book with an extensive collection of original, primary Tudor documents. This sympathetic defense of a Catholic Cardinal caused a massive political scandal, with angry critics accusing Fiddes of trying to bring pro-Catholic sympathies back to England. It remains a crucial milestone in British historical writing.
 
The Exterior: This is an authentic example of early 18th-century bookmaking, bound in a contemporary full-calf binding with a classic "Cambridge panel" style design. The front and rear boards are decorated with traditional blind-tooled rectangular panels accented by fleuron cornerpieces. To ensure structural stability for a text block of this size, the volume has been professionally rebacked. The new spine beautifully mimics the style of the period, featuring five raised bands forming distinct blind-stamped compartments, anchored by a contrasting deep-red morocco title label with crisp gilt-stamped lettering.
 
The dark brown calfskin on the boards displays an authentic antiquarian patina, complete with expected surface scuffing, edge rubbing, and localized corner wear. Notably, one of the boards exhibits a prominent historical leather repair along the outer corner and edge (as clearly visible in the accompanying photographs), where an older section of calfskin patch-bonding stabilizes a split. Despite this early cosmetic repair, the boards are firmly attached, the hinges are strong, and the book opens cleanly, making it a highly displayable and structurally sound volume
 
The Interior: Internally, this 1724 folio is in very good, clean antiquarian condition, with remarkably crisp text pages. The handmade rag paper remains bright throughout, showing minimal age-toning at the outermost margins. The book features rich, historical artwork, featuring its complete suite of highly detailed copper-engraved plates. This includes the striking frontispiece portrait of the author, Richard Fiddes, a beautiful full-page portrait of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey facing the first chapter, an intricate full-page engraving depicting a formal courtly assembly on a checkered floor, and beautifully preserved in-text portraits such as Cuthbert Tunstall (Cuthbertus Tonstall Epifcopus Dunelmenfis). The engravings are dark, sharp impressions with excellent contrast. The inner hinges are stable, and the leaves turn cleanly, making this an exceptional, complete copy for research or display.
 
We provide detailed photographs to allow you to assess the book's condition and aesthetic appeal. 
 
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