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POLYCRONICON by HIGDEN, RANULF - 16 May 1527

by HIGDEN, RANULF

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POLYCRONICON by HIGDEN, RANULF - 16 May 1527

POLYCRONICON

by HIGDEN, RANULF

  • Used
Southwerke: by my Peter Treueris at ye expences of Iohn Reynes boke seller at the sygne of saynt George in Poules chyrchyarde, 16 May 1527. Third--and First Illustrated--Edition. 303 x 208 mm. (11 7/8 x 8 1/8"). 49 (of 50) p.l. (lacking blank 2h6), CCCxlvi, [1] leaves.Translated by John Trevisa. Edited and with a continuation by William Caxton. Late 18th century diced russia, expertly rebacked to style, flat spine divided into compartments with either calligraphic flourish centerpiece or repeating rows of scallops, red morocco label, turn-ins with gilt pentaglyph-and-metope roll, marbled endpapers. Title page and last page with publisher's device of John Reynes (Saint George slaying the dragon, McKerrow 55), full-page woodcut of a battle, nine smaller woodcuts (from six blocks) in the text, depicting generic knights and princes. Title page printed in red and black. Front pastedown with engraved bookplates of Thomas Amyot and Henry B. H. Beaufoy; ink signature of William Butler on title and last page. STC 13440; Pforzheimer, 490; Grolier, "Langland to Wither" 121.
Corners somewhat bumped, minor scuffing to boards, but the attractively rebacked binding quite sound. Leaves washed and pressed, with occasional light browning, minor stains or smudges, and isolated rust spots, printing error on one page affecting a couple of words, otherwise an excellent copy, generally clean and crisp, and with exceptionally wide margins. This is the most influential chronicle in 14th and 15th century Britain. It was written in the 1320s by Benedictine monk Ranulf Higden (ca. 1299-1364) of Chester, translated to English in 1387, and first printed by Caxton in 1480. According to DNB, the work "offered to the educated and learned audience of fourteenth-century England a clear and original picture of world history based upon medieval tradition, but with a new interest in antiquity, and with the early history of Britain related as part of the whole." The work was originally divided into seven parts (for the seven days of creation in Genesis), and ended coverage of events in 1342. John Malvern (d. ca. 1414) added a final book covering the years 1348-81; this addition was translated by Caxton and added to his 1482 edition. DNB speculates that our printer Peter Treveris (fl. 1525-32) may have been an immigrant, as were many early London printers, or he may have come from a Cornish family named Treffrey (sometimes spelled "Treveris"). At his workshop in Southwark, he issued some 30-40 books, chief of which, in the eyes of DNB, was the present "handsome" edition. He was also responsible for Brunschwig's "Noble Handiwork of Surgery," the first printing of the influential "Grete Herball," and John Skelton's "Magnyfycence," but DNB notes that the "Polycronicon" is the most attractive of his works. Plomer reports that "Treveris also shared with Wynkyn de Worde most of the printing of Richard Whittington's scholastic works." The present edition is the penultimate printing of "Polycronicon" recorded by ESTC, and is the only printing of the complete work not published by Caxton or his successor, Wynkyn de Worde. Complete copies of any edition are scarce. Former owner Thomas Amyot (1775-1850) was a lawyer, antiquary, and Fellow of the Royal Society, who, DNB notes, "was always ready to encourage young historians by giving them access to his large and valuable library and by introducing them to others who might be influential in their careers." Another owner, Henry B. H. Beaufoy (1786-1851), was a well-known enthusiast of hot air ballooning, as well as a bibliophile whose impressive library included all four Shakespeare folios.
  • Bookseller Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts US (US)
  • Book Condition Used
  • Quantity Available 1
  • Edition Third--and First Illustrated--Edition
  • Publisher by my Peter Treueris at ye expences of Iohn Reynes boke seller at the sygne of saynt George in Poules chyrchyarde
  • Place of Publication Southwerke
  • Date Published 16 May 1527

We have 3 copies available starting at $1,926.00.

POLYCRONICON [POLYCHRONICON]
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POLYCRONICON [POLYCHRONICON]

by [Caxton, William]: Higden, Ranulf (Ranulphus)

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  • first
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New Haven, Connecticut, United States
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Sign of the Red Pale, Westminister: [William Caxton], 1482. One original folio leaf of the chapter Liber Quartus, viii, (Book Four), printed on recto and verso in black bâtarde typeface, rubricated in red, with marginal chronological notes in red, and ink notations in an early hand. 10.63 x 7.69 in. (27 x 19.5 cm) approx. 40 lines plus heading on each of the two pages. Small chip from the lower foretip, tiny paper adhesion on extreme edge of verso, else very good. Contained in a floating mat for observation of entire leaf. Scarce. William Caxton (1422-1491 or 1492) introduced printing in English in 1476, establishing his first press on the grounds of Westminster Abbey. Printed in 1482, Caxton's edition of Ranulph Higden's Polycronicon, written around 1344, is a universal history concentrating on Britain. It was translated into English by John of Trevisa in 1387 and was a popular text that was widely copied and read. Caxton's early modern translation expands the chronicle to his own time. The… Read More
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An Original page (Leaf) From the Polycronicon Printed by William Caxton at Westminster in the...

An Original page (Leaf) From the Polycronicon Printed by William Caxton at Westminster in the Year 1482

by Higden, Ranulf, Caxton, William, printer

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  • good
  • first
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Used - Good
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1st Edition
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Wakefield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
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London: William Caxton, 1482. Book. Good. No Binding. 1st Edition. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. A single double sided leaf from the first edition of William Caxton's "Polychronicon" printed by William Caxton in 1482. The leaf is from Liber quartus, it is in good overall condition but subject to some foxing and minor nickks to top edge. Good margins. . See images. Please inquire if you need further information. please contact us..
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Polycronicon. ( Polychronicon )

by CAXTON, William - Higden, Ranulf (Ranulphus)

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  • Hardcover
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Used
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Hardcover
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Somerville, New Jersey, United States
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[Westminster]: William Caxton, 1482, 1482. A single folio leaf, 26.8 cm x 19.3 cm, from Liber Quintus, 40 lines and headline, black letter, rubricated in red, ink annotations to outer margin in an early hand, early paper repair to foredge of verso, overall VERY GOOD. [BMC XI, 127; Goff H-267; HC 8659; STC 13483; Bod-inc H-121; Pforzheimer 490]. William Caxton was the first of the 15th C. printers to publish in English. In 1938 The Book Club of California had issued a leaf book, limited to 297 copies, each containing a leaf from the Polycronicon.
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