BOUND FOR KING CHARLES II, IN THE YEAR OF HIS DEATH, WITH ASTROLOGICAL MATERIAL

(CHARLES II) LILLY, William, et al. Sammelband of Almanacs for 1685, including Merlini Anglici Ephemeris, et al. London: J. Macock, et al., 1685. 12mo, contemporary full crimson morocco, corners and spine panels tooled with Charles II's cipher, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Housed in a custom chemise and clamshell box. $8500.

Collection of ten English Almanacs published in the year of King Charles II's death, with numerous woodblock illustrations, bound for the king's personal library with his cipher on the spine panels and the corners of the covers.

Includes: William Lilly's Merlini Anglici Ephemeris; John Gadbury's Ephemeris… with some further Remarques upon the late Triple Regal Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, not the Destroyer (as some have idly written) but great Advancer of Monarchy; both parts of Philoprotest's The Protestant Almanack, with a disquisition on "Popish Fopperies"; Lancelot Goelson's Almanack; John Tanner's Angelus Britannicus: an Ephemeris; Henry Coley's Nuncius Uranius: or, the Starry Messenger; John Partridge's Merlinus Redivivus; Thomas Streete's A Compleat Ephemeris; Richard Saunders' Apollo Anglicanus, the English Apollo; and Poor Robin's An Almanack. All of these almanacs contain a large amount of astrological material and predictions for the coming year. Charles II died quite suddenly after an apoplectic fit on February 2, 1685, at the age of 54. On the last evening of his life he converted to Catholicism.

Joints expertly repaired, a bit of minor age-wear to extremities. A very good royal armorial binding from the library of Charles II.