British Family Antiquity Eleven Volume Set

5RR William Playfair. London 1809-1811

Notes

British Family Antiquity, compiled by William Playfair in the early 19th century, is a genealogical and heraldic work aimed at documenting the noble families of Great Britain. The book was part of a broader Victorian and late Georgian trend toward preserving aristocratic lineages and celebrating heraldry, at a time when British identity and social structures were deeply intertwined with noble heritage. Playfair, better known for his contributions to statistical graphics (including the invention of line and bar charts), also dabbled in historical and genealogical studies, and British Family Antiquity stands as one of his more ambitious endeavors in this field.

The work is organized into volumes that cover different regions and include detailed pedigrees, coats of arms, and short biographies of noble families. Playfair relied on a mix of historical records, peerage documents, and heraldic sources to compile his entries. Though not always scholarly by modern standards, the work is notable for its attempt to bring structure and visual clarity to genealogical data—an approach reminiscent of his innovations in statistical presentation.

Playfair’s aim with British Family Antiquity was not only to preserve noble lineages but to underscore the importance of hereditary honor in British society. His presentation of family trees and coats of arms serves both an aesthetic and ideological function, reflecting the values of continuity, tradition, and social hierarchy. Despite some criticisms over accuracy and selectivity, the series remains a valuable resource for historians and genealogists interested in early 19th-century perceptions of nobility and identity.

Today, British Family Antiquity is viewed as a blend of antiquarian enthusiasm and national pride. It represents both a snapshot of British aristocratic culture and a step in the evolving practice of genealogy, influenced by the Enlightenment’s emphasis on order and systematization—even in matters of birth and bloodline.

Description

Red leather binding with ornate gilt detailing framing the upper and lower boards. All edges gilt. Each has Five raised bands with gilt titles and designs in each compartment. Some fading to the spines and general wear and scuffing to most upper and lower boards. Rubbing to the extremities. Fraying to corners and spine corners. Entire set is 40 inches wide and 14 inches tall.