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[LEAF BOOK] A Short Account of the Life and Work of Wynkyn de Worde, with a Leaf from The Golden Legend, Printed by Him at the Sign of the Sun in Fleet Street, London, the Year 1527 by De Worde, Wynkyn; Grabhorn, Robert (Editor) - 1949

by De Worde, Wynkyn; Grabhorn, Robert (Editor)

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[LEAF BOOK]  A Short Account of the Life and Work of Wynkyn de Worde, with a Leaf from The Golden Legend, Printed by Him at the Sign of the Sun in Fleet Street, London, the Year 1527 by De Worde, Wynkyn; Grabhorn, Robert  (Editor) - 1949

[LEAF BOOK] A Short Account of the Life and Work of Wynkyn de Worde, with a Leaf from The Golden Legend, Printed by Him at the Sign of the Sun in Fleet Street, London, the Year 1527

by De Worde, Wynkyn; Grabhorn, Robert (Editor)

  • Used
  • Fine
  • Hardcover
San Francisco: The Book Club of California, printed by The Grabhorn Press, 1949. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. One of 375 copies, folio size, [23] pp. Wynkyn de Worde (d. 1534/5) "was Caxton's right-hand man and successor. Caxton may have taken him on at the start of his printing career in Cologne, and brought him to England to oversee the operation of his Westminster press. But de Worde was more than just a technician: after his master's death he took on the press and ran it successfully for forty years, producing some 400 titles in this time. He greatly expanded the range of books published by the press, and in 1500 he moved it from Westminster to new premises at the sign of the Sun in Fleet Street, London, helping to found the tradition of printing and journalism that made that street world-famous for centuries until recent years. This leaf, folio CC.xiii, was printed there.

Wynkyn de Worde also set up a shop at the sign of Our Lady of Pity in nearby St Paul's cathedral churchyard, the centre of London's book trade until the nineteenth century. The Golden Legend is a compilation of Lives of the Saints made by an Italian friar in the thirteenth century and translated into English by Caxton himself. A recent printed edition describes it as 'one of the most influential books of the later Middle Ages', its colloquial name, 'Legenda Aurea' in Latin meaning 'readings valuable as gold'" (per the web site of Printing History).

A lovely publication by the Grabhorn Press, with decorative initials by Zena Kavin (1912-2003), a San Francisco-area painter, printmaker, weaver, and illustrator. Her work was included in the inaugural exhibition for the San Francisco Museum of Art. Her work was also exhibited in the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego, and the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. The leaf included in this volume is from "The Lyfe of Saynt Rocke", the lettering in two columns with vintage handwriting running vertically down the center margin. Included in the Exhibition of Western Books (Rounce & Coffin Club).

___DESCRIPTION: Original quarter brown canvas and decorative paper covered board, white paper label printed in red and black affixed to backstrip, upper board with white label printed in red with title-page device repeated, title in red, printed in red and black throughout, seven devices of Wynkyn de Worde reproduced in text with one on the title page, decorative initials by Zena Kavin; Koch Bibel handset type, French handmade paper, 23 unnumbered pages, folio size (13.5" by 9.75"), one of 375 copies, unnumbered.

___CONDITION: A fine copy; the paper boards clean and unrubbed, the paper label clean and without wear, the hinges strong, the interior clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; a hint of rubbing to the head and tail of the spine, else fine.

___CITATION: Grabhorn Press Bibliography, no. 486.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.
  • Seller Swan's Fine Books US (US)
  • Format/Binding Hardcover
  • Book Condition Used - Fine
  • Quantity Available 1
  • Edition Limited Edition
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Publisher The Book Club of California, printed by The Grabhorn Press
  • Place of Publication San Francisco
  • Date Published 1949
  • Keywords Fine Press, Grabhorn Press, Medieval Literature, Biblical Literature, Zena Kavin, handset type, handmade paper

We have 2 copies available starting at A$685.56.

A Short Account of the Life and Work of Wynkyn de Worde with a Leaf from the Golden Legend...
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A Short Account of the Life and Work of Wynkyn de Worde with a Leaf from the Golden Legend Printed by Him at the Sign of the Sun in Fleet Street, London, the Year 1527 [Leaf Book]

by Grabhorn, Robert [Wynkyn de Worde]

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$685.56

Show Details

Description:
San Francisco: the Book Club of California, 1949. Folio. Quarter cloth over decorative floral paper boards. Paper label to spine and decorative paper label to front board. Cloth and corners a touch rubbed, else a fine copy. The original leaf is tipped to page [V] and is in near fine condition. with some minor age-toning. An interesting leaf book, printed in red and black, with an account of the life and works of Wynkyn de Worde, including two pages of examples of his printer's marks. The original leaf is from de Worde's 1527 printing in English of the Golden Legend. The leaf is from the "The Lyfe of saynt James lesse" and is printed in two columns. An attractive production with a leaf printed by one of England's great, early printers and the successor to William Caxton. (Dispersed and Disbound 100) 1949
Item Price
A$685.56
A Short Account of the Life and Work of Wynkyn de Worde with a Leaf from the Golden Legend...

A Short Account of the Life and Work of Wynkyn de Worde with a Leaf from the Golden Legend Printed by Him at the Sign of the Sun in Fleet Street, London, the Year 1527 [Leaf Book]

by Grabhorn, Robert [Wynkyn de Worde]

  • Used
  • near fine
Condition
Used - near fine
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
A$685.56

Show Details

Description:
San Francisco: the Book Club of California, 1949. Undetermined. near fine. edition limited to 375 copies. [vi], 15, [2]pp. Folio. Quarter cloth over decorative floral paper boards. Paper label to spine and decorative paper label to front board. Cloth and corners a touch rubbed, else a fine copy. The original leaf is tipped to page [V] and is in near fine antiquarian condition, with some minor age-toning and one small chip to foredge. An interesting leaf book, printed in red and black, with an account of the life and works of Wynkyn de Worde, including two pages of examples of his printer's marks. The original leaf is from de Worde's 1527 printing in English of the Golden Legend. The leaf is from "The Lyfe of Saynt Partyke." and is printed in two columns with a gilt line drawn between the columns on the verso of the leaf. An attractive production with a leaf printed by one of England's great, early printers and the successor to William Caxton. (Dispersed and Disbound 100) 1949
Item Price
A$685.56