Morley, Thomas

first edition, [6], 183 & [35] pages, folio (293 x 188mm), elaborate historiated woodcut title-border (McKerrow & Ferguson 99), dedicatory epistle to William Byrd, verses by Anthony Holborne, type-set music throughout, including 7 double-page pieces printed in table format (one motet printed in red and black), some woodcut music and diagrams, 14-line historiated initials, contemporary limp wrappers formed from a fragment of a medieval illuminated manuscript on vellum, various early inscriptions on the wrappers: "...liber aishburni Lottisham, precij vij s[hillings]",  "John Ewens the Younger",  modern initials in blue ink ("AE"), etc, stab-stitched, a tall copy, with one or two deckle edges, modern folding box, a few tiny editorial emendations and one small pastedown, tears to lower corner of first 2 leaves repaired on verso (one word restored), pp.48, 53 & 75 lightly printed, printing through on pp.49-52, some staining, small hole in table on F2, some tears and creasing to corners

"Lottisham"; John Ewens the Younger (of Mudford Manor?); Albert Ehrman (his initials in blue ink); The Broxbourne Library sale, first portion: sale in our rooms 15 November 1977, lot 311 (lacking bookplate)

ESTC  S111843; STC 18133; Hirsch, i 416; Gregory & Bartlett, i, 188; RISM Écrits, p. 598; Steele 161.  D. Pearson, English Bookbinding Styles (1450-1800), pp.150-154.

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."

A fine tall copy of "perhaps the most famous musical treatise in the English Language" (TNG).

Thomas Morley was a celebrated composer in his own right and emphasises "Practicall Musicke" rather than abstruse theory.  When the pupil is confronted with a complicated scientific table by Gafurius, he protests, "Heere is a Table in deede contayning more than I ever meane to beate my brayns about. As for musick, the principal thing we seek in it, is to delight the eare. . .therefore proceede to the rest of your musicke" (F2).  The book results from Morley's own extensive research, and includes quotations from works by Striggio, Renaldi, Piggot, and others, in addition to his own examples.  The music at the end of the volume is printed in "table format"; ie the parts are appropriately orientated for the singers sat round a table. 

Most unusually, this copy appears to retain the temporary stab-sewn binding as issued at the point of sale.  This is formed from a complete leaf of a late twelfth- or early thirteenth-century Anglo-French manuscript of Peter Lombard's Magna glossatura (ie his exegesis on the Psalms).  The script and decoration relate to two late-C12 manuscripts now in the Bodleian Library (Mss. Auct.D.2.8 and Bodley 725).  The gilt initial "S" on the back cover introduces Psalm 137 (136 in the Vulgate), "Super flumina babilonis", and continues on the inside covers (Ps. 136:11--137:5).  Simple stab-stitched bindings using vellum fragments were often applied to English books up until the middle of the seventeenth century.  This was a period when medieval manuscripts were relatively plentiful, following the dissolution of the monasteries. Such bindings were originally designed to be cheap and temporary, so it is rare to find one still in such an attractive condition.

We are indebted to Professor John Milsom for informing us that, after examining over forty copies of the first edition, this is the tallest copy known to him.