A remarkably well-preserved first edition of English essayist and statesman Sir Francis Bacon’s influential history of the reign of the first Tudor monarch Henry VII, published shortly after James I arranged Bacon’s release from the Tower of London. Bacon’s Historie revolutionized contemporaneous accounts of the life of James I’s royal predecessor, descrying that “None of the histories which had been written before conveyed any idea either of the distinctive character of [Henry VII] or the real business of his reign.” Bacon’s only completed work of history, the volume set the standards for historical accuracy for at least three centuries following its publication and helped to vault Bacon out of political exile. This copy lacks John Payne’s frontispiece portrait plate with the text retaining the uncorrected errata with seven “faults escaped” listed on p. 248 in addition to “souldiers” on p. 3. Rubbing to board extremities with some surface chips to leather, especially on rear. Lacks frontispiece portrait and front blank. Contents with water-staining to lower portion throughout, resulting in only slight warping to pages. Binding firm and tight with hinges fine. Previous owner’s inscription in ink to front flyleaf with an engraved bookplate neatly presented on the front pastedown.