(Reynes, John; sixteenth-century English blind-stamped Binding) — Desiderius Erasmus

8vo (6 7/8 x 4 3/4 in.; 175 x 120 mm). 352 leaves, gothic letters on two columns, woodcut initials. Contemporary London binding attributed to Richard Pynson or John Reynes, light-brown calf over wooden boards, on both sides large panel stamps, outlined by a single broad fillet between two narrow ones, the royal arms of Henry VIII, supported by a greyhound and a dragon on upper cover, the Tudor rose above the pomegranate of Catherine of Aragon, surrounded by a scroll upheld by two angles, bearing the legend "Hec rosa virtutis de celo missa sereno: Eternu(m) florens regia sceptra ferret," three broad raised bands on spine, title calligraphically lettered on the fore-edge; clasps missing, top and bottom of spine repaired, joints fragile. 

Lord Astor (note from Mr. Robert Pirie in upper right corner of first blank). acquisition: Martin Breslauer, 1992 

Hobson, Blind-stamped Panels, pp. 32-34; Oldham, Blind-stamped Panels, HE. 26 and RO. 21, ill. plates XXI and XLI; Oldham, Blind-stamped Bindings, plate XXVIII 

A very fine example of early Londonian blind-stamped binding. 

According to Oldham, these two panels are always used together. They are known on thirty-six books, dated from 1502 to 1531. They were used firstly by Pynson and then belonged to John Reynes.