[Henry VIII, king of England]

A necessary doctrine and erudition for any Christian man, sette further by the kynges maiestie of England &c. (London: Thomas Barthelet, 29 May 1543), 4to (215 x 149mm.), Black Letter, title within woodcut architectural border with initials T.B. at foot, woodcut royal arms and initials, early annotations, later blind-stamped calf, [ESTC S110753; STC 5168], occasional light smudging and dampstaining, binding worn

A necessary doctrine and erudition for any Christian man, sette further by the kynges maiestie of England &c. (London: Thomas Barthelet, 29 May 1543), 4to (182 x 124mm.), Black Letter, title within woodcut architectural border with initials T.B. at foot, woodcut royal arms and initials, later calf, [ESTC S124666; STC 5170], first and last few leaves damaged at edges and repaired with some loss of text, dampstaining, binding worn



Pia et catholica christiani hominis institutio. London: Thomas Berthelet, 1544, 4to (175 x 130mm.), title within woodcut architectural border, woodcut arms and initials, nineteenth-century calf, edges gilt, annotated on title-page in a sixteenth-century hand referring to Bale's bibliography (see lot 9), [ESTC S107824; STC 5178], title-page cropped at foot, ink stain on title, slight damp-staining, binding worn



together 3 volumes

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."

The Necessary Doctrine and Erudition for Any Christian Man (also known as the King's Book) was first published in 1543 and, as the sixteenth-century annotation in the third of these copies suggests, was attributed to Henry VIII and was his last official doctrinal statement. It was a revision of The Institution of the Christian Man, a work produced by a committee of forty-six divines and bishops headed by Thomas Cranmer and written in support of the King's reforms.