Accession number
PML 20926.1
Creator
Higden, Ranulf, -1364.
Object title
Discripcion of Britayne.
Published
Westminster : William Caxton, 18 August 1480.
Description
[30] leaves ; 28 cm (fol.)
Credit line
Purchased by J.P. Morgan, 1920.
Notes
Collation: [1-3⁸ 4⁶]: 30 leaves, leaf [4]/6 blank.
Goff, ISTC, and GW consider this title with the Chronicles of England as a single edition in two parts dated: I) 10 June 1480 and II) 18 Aug. 1480. BMC divides into two editions, but intended to be sold together.
Paper format: Chancery folio
PML copy leaf dimensions: 26.5 x 19.5 cm
PML copy missing 5 leaves: [1]/1.8, [1]/2.7, and [4]/6 (blank).
PML copy unrecorded by De Ricci, Census.
Printed in Caxton's type 4:95B.
The Description of Britain is derived from Liber I of Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicon, printed by Caxton in 1482 (BMC).
Title and imprint from colophon (leaf [4]/5r): Here endeth het discripcion of Britayne the / whiche conteyneth englond wales and scotland / [and] also bicause Irlonde in under the reule of englond [and] of olde tyme it hath so continued therfore I have sette the descripcion of the same after the said brituyne / which I have taken oute of Policronicon / And bicause it is necessarie to alle englisshmen to knowe the propertees co[m]moditees [and] mervailles of them / therefore I have sette them in enprinte according to the translacion of Trevisa / whiche atte request of the lord Barkeley translated the book of Policronicon in to englissh / Fynysshed by me william Carton [sic] the xviii. day of August the yere of our lord god M.CCCC. lxxx. and the xx. yere of the regne of kyng Edward the fourthe.
Goff, ISTC, and GW consider this title with the Chronicles of England as a single edition in two parts dated: I) 10 June 1480 and II) 18 Aug. 1480. BMC divides into two editions, but intended to be sold together.
Paper format: Chancery folio
PML copy leaf dimensions: 26.5 x 19.5 cm
PML copy missing 5 leaves: [1]/1.8, [1]/2.7, and [4]/6 (blank).
PML copy unrecorded by De Ricci, Census.
Printed in Caxton's type 4:95B.
The Description of Britain is derived from Liber I of Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicon, printed by Caxton in 1482 (BMC).
Title and imprint from colophon (leaf [4]/5r): Here endeth het discripcion of Britayne the / whiche conteyneth englond wales and scotland / [and] also bicause Irlonde in under the reule of englond [and] of olde tyme it hath so continued therfore I have sette the descripcion of the same after the said brituyne / which I have taken oute of Policronicon / And bicause it is necessarie to alle englisshmen to knowe the propertees co[m]moditees [and] mervailles of them / therefore I have sette them in enprinte according to the translacion of Trevisa / whiche atte request of the lord Barkeley translated the book of Policronicon in to englissh / Fynysshed by me william Carton [sic] the xviii. day of August the yere of our lord god M.CCCC. lxxx. and the xx. yere of the regne of kyng Edward the fourthe.
Binding
16th-century blind-rolled English calf over wooden boards (28 x 20 cm), sewn on 4 supports; repaired by Duprez Lahey. Plain paper pastedowns and fly leaves; plain endbands. 2 clasps, wanting; catch plates are wedge-shaped with a scalloped edge.
Variant title
The description of Britain
Inscriptions/Markings
Hand decoration: Rubricated, red lombards and paragraph marks (C-type with extended upper stroke). Annotations: Marginal notations in graphite and ink, 16th century, including one on Caxton as England's first printer (leaf [4]/5r of Description); inscription (by Barbara?), mostly abraded, 16th/17th century (front pastedown).
Provenance
Alys Clifton, signature, 16th century(?) (leaf b1r of Description); Robert Whyte, signature, 16th century(?) (leaf c8r of Description); Richard Randoll, inscription, 16th century(?) (leaf p8v of Description); [Mrs.?] C.M. Heneage, of Compton Bassett, signature, 18th/19th century (front pastedown); unidentified price codes, in graphite (rear pastedown); J.P. Morgan, Jr. (1867-1943), purchased from Bernard Quaritch, Feb. 1920.
Classification
Catalog link
Century
Department