The Golden Legend 1527 Wynkyn de Worde

Legenda Aurea: that is to saye in Englysshe the Golden legende. For lyke as golde passeth all other metalles, so this boke exedeth all other bokes [...]. By Jacobus de Voragine. London: Wynkyn de Worde, 27 August 1527, folio.

 

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A noble fragment of one of the most famous early books printed in England: the Golden Legend, first translated and printed by William Caxton, and here by perhaps the second most famous English printer, Wynkyn de Worde. Imprints of de Worde are incredibly rare, as essentially are all English books prior to 1550 - the earlier the rarer. The Golden Legend was one of the first books William Caxton printed in the English language; Caxton's version appeared in 1483 and his translation was reprinted, reaching a ninth edition in 1527, as here.

Written in simple, readable Latin, the book was read in its day for its stories. Each chapter is about a different saint or Christian festival. The book is considered the closest thing to an encyclopaedia of medieval saint lore that survives today; as such, it is invaluable to art historians and medievalists who seek to identify saints depicted in art by their deeds and attributes. This book was one of the most significant source books for Renaissance artists.

A noble fragment of this work, containing folios 233-382 (of 384), including 19 woodcut illustrations throughout. This edition is often owned only in single leaves and is exceptionally rare in any state of completion. For example, Purdue University has just two non-consecutive leaves in their collection. This book, being second only to Caxton in early English printing, is incredibly significant. Having a large consecutive portion of the text as here is exceptional. It is a fantastic book for historical reasons; it is one of the last explicitly Catholic oriented books printed in England prior to the Reformation and formation of the Church of England. This was printed just one year after Tyndale's first New Testament which appeared in 1526, of which only three copies survive. Extremely few books printed in England this early survive in any state of completion.

A full list of the contents of this section is available under the condition section, but some of the most significant include: The Nativity of Our Lady Saint Mary (and Miracles associated with her), The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, The Life of St John Chrysostom, St Matthew, St Luke, The Feast of St Michael the Archangel, The Feast of St Jerome, The Life of St Francis (of Assisi), St Edward the Confessor, The Solemnity of Halloween, The Commemoration of All Souls, The Life of St Edmund King and Martyr, The Life of St Bede, The Life of St Polycarp, etc.

 

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Provenance:

Contemporary early English marginalia (circa before 1550, likely very early), often very interesting indeed, including several accusations of blasphemy levied against the author, among other interesting comments which will profitably reward study, and several references to the Bible - something particularly significant as the handwriting style seems most consistent with a early date (c.1520s-1530s), and so it's quite likely that this commentator was consulting a copy of Tyndale's NT. They would certainly have been of the means to do so, given their possession of this book. A lovely witness to the incredibly tumultuous time in religious history surrounding Tyndale's printing through to the effects of the reformation in England.

From the collection of Gladwyn Maurice Revell Turbutt (1883-1914), the famous collector who discovered a Shakespeare first folio which is now at the Bodleian Library, known as the Turbutt Shakespeare. His ownership inscription is on the ffep verso dated June 11th 1903, together with an interesting 2pp manuscript of the Life of Wynkyn de Worde in the hand of Turbutt on the front endpaper and following blank.

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Size: 202 x 301 mm (approx.)

Condition: 

[Dd1-Xx8, Yy6, (~Yy7-8)]

Circa late 19th century or very early 20th century brown half morocco, spine lettered in gilt. The binding was most likely commissioned by Gladwyn Turbutt. Both boards are securely attached. The binding is secure and stands without shelf lean. Very attractive on the shelf, binding in very good condition. Includes Dd1-Yy6 in the collation, comprising most of the second part. Lacks Yy7-8, provided in facsimile, but is otherwise complete after and inclusive of Dd1. A1-4 and the two leaves of the table of part two are also provided in facsimile at the start of the book, to include the facsimile frontis and Life of Adam. Yy7-8 in facsimile includes the colophon and printer's device. The facsimiles are of excellent quality, probably dating from circa 1903. Leaf 2N2 torn with some loss, but restored and appended with facsimile of the lost section. Slight loss to the corner of 2Y5, also finely appended in facsimile, affecting only a few words. Replaced endpapers (c.1903). Some contemporary underlining and marginalia throughout with some dampstaining to 2N5 through to 2R1, not affecting legibility. Leaf edges occasionally slightly ragged, but generally remain very good, some with edge strengthening with Kozo paper. Mild toning. An excellent example of this extremely rare noble fragment.

[STC 24880].

 

This noble fragment includes (chronologically): 

The Lyfe of Saynt Bamertyn (partial), The Lyfe of Saynt Gyles, The Natyvite of our Lady Saynt Marye, The Lyfe of Saynt Adryan, The Lyves of Saynt Gorgone and Saynt Dorothe, The Lyves of Saynt Prothe Jacyncte & Eugenne, The Exaltacyon of the Holy Crosse, The Lyfe of Saynt John Crysostome, Saynt Connely, Saynt Eusemye, Saynt Lambert, Saynt Matthewe (gospel writer), Saynt Mauryce, Saynt Justyne, Saynt Cosme & Damyan, Saynt Forsyn, The Feest of Saynt Mychael the archangell, The Feest of Saynt Jerome, The Lyfe of Saynt Remyge, Saynt Logyer, The Lyfe of Saynt Franceys (fol 262), Saynt Pelagyen, Saynt Margarete, Saynt Thais of Thaisis, Saynt Denys Ariopagyte, Saynt Calyxte pope, Saynt Edwarde kynge and confessour (very long section), Saynt Luke the evangelyst, Saynt Crysant & Saynt Daria, Saynt Ursula, Saynt Cryspyn & Cryspynyan, Saynt Symon & Jude, Saynt Quyntyn, Saynt Eustace, The Solempnyte of all Halowen, The Comemoracyon of all Soules, Saynt Wenefryde, Saynt Leonarde, The Lyfe of the foure crowned martyrs,  Saynt Theodore, Saynt Martyn, Saynt Bryce, Saynt Clare, The Myracles of Saynt Clare, The Lyfe of Saynt Barbara, Saynt Alexis, Saynt Elisabeth, Saynt Edmund Confessor & Bysshop, Saynt Hugh of Lyncolne, Saynt Edmonde kynge & martyr, Saynt Cecylye, Saynt Clement pope, Saynt Grysogone, Saynt Katheryne, Saynt James the martyr, Saynt Bede, Saynt Dorothe, Saynt Brandon, Saynt Erkenwolde, Saynt Pastor abbot, Saynt John the abbot, Saynt Moyses the abbot, Saynt Arsenye, Saynt Agathon, Saynt Balaam, Saynt Pelagyen, Saynt Symeon, Saynt Polycarpe, Saynt Quiryace, Saynt Thomas of Alquyne, Saynt Gauys pope, Saynt Arnolde, Saynt Turyen, Saynt Syacre, Saynt Justyn, Saynt Demetryen, Saynt Rygoberte, Saynt Landry, Saynt Melonyn, Saynt Yues, Saynt Mosant, Saint Lowys kynge of Fraunce, Saynt Lowys byshhop, Saynt Audegonde, Saynt Aulbyne, Saynt Erasmus bysshop and martyr (final parts in facsimile).