L12408

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Lot 1
  • 1

Mirk, John

Estimate
5,000 - 7,000 GBP
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Description

  • Mirk, John
  • The Festyvall. (Wynkyn de Worde, 5 November 1528)
  • Paper
4to (178 x 123mm.), woodcuts on recto and verso of title-page, woodcut initials and illustrations, de Worde's printer's device [McKerrow 21] on final verso, sections regarding Thomas a Becket (N4-8 and T4-5) lightly crossed through, nineteenth-century smooth calf gilt, spine gilt in compartments, T4-5 supplied in facsimile, title-page slightly soiled and repaired in gutter with small hole at edge of woodcut on recto, occasional light damp-staining, covers detached, text block split between quires N and O

Literature

STC 17974

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

This is one of three copies of this edition listed by ESTC.

Mirk's Festial, a devotional collection of sermons based on the Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine and probably compiled in the 1380s, was the most frequently published work of pre-Reformation England, in both manuscript and print. First printed by Caxton in 1483 (STC 17957), it was regularly reprinted until 1532, the last of eleven editions printed just by de Worde (the first printer to include woodcuts with this text), after which it ceased to be produced because its devotional nature was no longer considered appropriate in the political climate of England. This copy does indeed have the two passages regarding Thomas a Becket lightly scored through; the stubs of pages showing between N4 and N5 indicate that the original leaves of this section were removed and later replaced with leaves from another copy. Leaves T4-5, however, seem to be facsimile leaves with some text supplied in manuscript at the foot of T5 verso.

The Law Society of England and Wales was founded in 1825, with a library forming part of the original prospectus for the Society, and by 1832 it was housed in its present elegant building on Chancery Lane. The current selection of 22 lots all have library stamps reflecting their history and have been marked to indicate their deaccession from the Law Society’s holdings.