 |
Pynson’s
Typographical Masterpiece
1. [Pynson,
Richard, Printer].
Intration[um]
Excellentissimus Liber per Q[uam] Necessarius O[mn]ibuz
Le[gum] Hominib[us]; Fere in se
Continens O[mn]em Medullam Diversar[um]
Meteriar[um]...Necn[on] Multorum Brevium
tam Executionu[m] q[uam] Aliorum Valde
Utilium Illis hunc Librum Inspecturis aut Inscrutandis. Que Quide[m]
Supradicta Facilit[ate] Possunt Inueniri p[er]
Indic[m] Alphabeticu[m] P[er]uigila[n]ti
Studio Co[n]fectu[m] [et] p[er]
Ordine[m] L[ite]raru[m]
Redactu[m]. [London: In Vico Vulgariter Nu[n]cupato
Fletstrete in Officina Ere ac Impensis Honesti Viri Ricardi Pynson
Regis Impressoris Moram Suam Trahentis sub Signo Diui Georgii, Anno
N[ost]re Redemptionis, M.CCCCC.x [1510] die Vero Ultima Mensis
Februarij]. [xx] pp., 185 fols, [1] pp. Final blank lacking. Folio
(8-3/4" x 12-1/2"). Early twentieth-century morocco Riviere binding,
raised bands and gilt title to spine, gilt inside borders, all edges
gilt, marbled endpapers, inner margin of title page expertly
repaired. Negligible rubbing and a few tiny scuffs to extremities,
later morocco bookplate of Herschel V. Jones to front pastedown,
auction catalogue entry for this item (with the annotation “Jones
Sale 1918-19”) tipped-in to front free endpaper. Title page printed
in red and black, full-page woodcut royal arms to verso, large
Pynson armorial device to verso of final leaf, woodcut decorated
initials to index. Early annotations in fine chancery hand to
margins of a few leaves, some have minor loss from trimming. Tiny
deaccession stamp of the Huntington Library to recto of rear free
endpaper, no other markings. Offsetting to endleaves and title,
faint stains, finger smudges and minor tears to a few leaves at ends
of text, interior otherwise fresh. A magnificent copy. $25,000.
* First
edition. With index. This masterpiece of early English printing is
considered by many to be Pynson’s greatest achievement and one of
the finest typographical specimens in the world. Also known as the
Book of Legal Writs, this is the earliest English book of precedents
for pleadings. It contains pleadings in real, personal and mixed
actions, information on writs and executions and miscellaneous
information on other topics. The anonymous author derived his
material from the plea rolls.
After Caxton,
Pynson is the most important early English printer. An innovator,
Pynson was the first to introduce Roman typefaces to England. The
quality of his work is excellent, and it was highly esteemed in his
day. Jones [1861-1928] was a distinguished art collector and
bibliophile best known for his patronage of the Minneapolis
Institute of Arts.
The entry tipped
in to the front free endpaper is from the Catalogue of the
Library of Herschel V. Jones, which was issued for the auction
held at the Anderson Galleries, New York, in 1918-19. OCLC locates
10 copies worldwide. Clair, A History of Printing in
Britain.
Beale, Bibliography of Early English Law Books T-283. See
illustration below.
 
1546 Printing
of the Earliest English Book of
Precedents With
Seventeen Pages of Contemporary Manuscript Notes
2. [Writs]. [Great
Britain].
Intrationum Liber Omnibus Legum Anglie Studiosis Apprime
Necessarius: In se Complectens Diversas Formus Placitoru[m],
Tam Realium, Personalium Q[uam] Mixtorum Necnon
Multorum Brevium tam Executionum q[uam] Aliorum Valde
Utilium nunc Tandem in Gr[ati]am Studiosorum Maiori
Cura et Diligentia q[uam] Ante hac Reuisus ac
Emendatus Adiectis Etiam Iudice Multo q[uam] Ante hac
Castigatiore cum Nonnullis Alliis Addita Mentis Hactenus non Excusis
nec Editis Cuiusquidem Iudicis Ordinem Series Alphabetica Tibi
Demonstrabit. [London]: Excudebat Henricus Smythe Co[m]morans
Extra Temple Barre in Parochia Sancti Clementi ad Intersignu[m]
Sancti Trinitatis., An. Restituete Salutis, 1546. [xlvi], 244 (i.e.
246) fols., [1] pp., 17 pp. of manuscript notes. Folio (8-1/2" x
13"). Contemporary panel-stamped calf, rebacked retaining later
lettering pieces, clasps lacking, endpapers and endleaves renewed.
Some rubbing to boards with wear to extremities, hinges cracked but
secure, first gathering of endleaves (blanks), partially detached.
Title printed within woodcut architectural border. Attractive
woodcut decorated initials. Later book plate of (H. Scofield) and
armorial bookplate (of a Mr. Davenport) to front pastedown.
Annotations in fine contemporary chancery hand to endleaves, title
page and margins of some leaves. Minor worming to front pastedown,
occasional faint dampstaining and spotting to fore edges, interior
otherwise fresh. Handsome.
$12,500.
* Reissue
of the first edition, 1510. With index. Also known as the Book of
Legal Writs, this is the earliest English book of precedents for
pleadings. It contains pleadings in real, personal and mixed
actions, information on writs and executions and miscellaneous
information on other topics. The anonymous author derived his
material from the plea rolls, a fundamental source for early English
legal history. This copy contains seventeen additional pages of
precedents in a fine contemporary chancery hand. OCLC locates 12
copies of this imprint. Beale, Bibliography of Early English Law
Books T-284. See illustration below.
|
|
