Books

Third collected edition, ESTC describes it as one of four variants of this date with different publisher's names in the colophon. The text is the version edited by William Thynne. Folio. 295x197mm. ff. [8], cxciii, cxciii-cc, ccii-ccvii, ccx-cclxxi, cclxxiii-cclxxvii, cclxxix-ccclv. Lacking final blank leaf. Printed in double columns, woodcut initials and woodcuts of the Knight and the Squire. The Romaunt of the Rose has a separate title. Full brown sheep, single fillet border to covers, with corners decorated with crowned garlands framing dolphins. Spine with five raised bands, compartments decorated in gilt. Red edges. Front pastedown has armorial bookplate of Mr Baron Maule and Kenneth Rapoport. Front free endpaper has armorial bookplate of Newton Hall, Cambridge and ownership inscription of Jo. Maule. Head and foot of spine chipped with loss. Hinges strengthened. Some damp-staining to the first gathering which is also a little loose. A very nice copy in a smart eighteenth-century binding of the Thynne edition published jointly by four London booksellers. Although all copies are undated, William Bonham (the publisher of this copy) is known to have been at the Red (Reed) Lion address in 1551 so a date of 1550 is generally agreed. All variants are rare, ESTC recording this one in seven UK libraries and eight in the US. ESTC: S108819.