Capgrave, John

folio (281 x 200mm.), black letter, double column, woodcut initials, near contemporary annotations in ink, contemporary blind-tooled calf over wooden boards, vertical and horizontal roll-tooled borders with repeated ornaments of rose, fleur-de-lys, an animal (? a lion) and initials "L.R." or "L.K." containing lozenges with pineapple ornaments, remains of clasps, lacking title-page, [pi]A6, final leaf 2l5 and also nine further text leaves (three leaves from gathering 2c⁶and all of 2d⁶), A1 torn and repaired, 2c1 torn with some loss affecting a few words, some staining and soiling (particularly towards the end), some other leaves slightly torn, rebacked, worn and rubbed at extremities, new endpapers

William O'Brien, bequest booklabel dated 1899

STC 4601; Lowndes IV, 1333 ("one of the most elegant specimens of W. de Worde's press")

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing unless otherwise stated
"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."

FIRST EDITION of this celebrated collection of 168 Saints' lives based on the work of the chronicler John of Tynemouth (fl. c.1350), of whom little is known. It was attributed in the middle of the sixteenth century to John Capgrave (1393-1464) by the antiquaries John Leland and John Bale, but that attribution has since been contested (see. P.J. Lucas, "John Capgrave and the Nova legenda Anglie: a Survey," The Library, 5th series, XXV, 1970, pp.1-10).

The binding bears some comparison with those of John Reynes, with the use of a similar but not quite identical pineapple ornament (see Oldham, English Blind-Stamped Bindings, plate XXVIII, no.437), though Oldham records similar ornaments on other bindings, including those of the Greyhound Binder (see plates XV (no.143), LVII (ornaments A and B) and LVIII (ornaments G1 and G2, in particular).