HENRY VIII, KING OF ENGLAND. 'LIBELLO HUIC REGIO HAEC INSUNT. ORATIO IOANNIS CLERK APUD RO.PON.IN EXHIBITIONE OPERIS REGIJ. RESPONSIO ROMAN.PONT.AD. EANDEM EX TEMPORE FACTA. BULLA RO.PON.AD REGIAM MAIESTATEM, PRO EIUS OPERIS CONFIRMATIONE. SUMMA INDULGE[N]TIARU[M], LIBELLUM IPSUM REGIUM LEGENTIBUS, CONCESSARUM. LIBELLUS REGIUS ADUERSUS MARTINUM LUTHERUM HÆRESIARCHON. EPISTOLA REGIA AD ILLUSTRISSIMOS SAXONIAE DUCES PIE ADMONITORIA'. (LONDON: RICHARD PYNSON, 1521 [–1522])

3 parts in one volume, 4to (9 x 8 1/4 in.; 229 zx 148 mm). Titles to parts 2 ('Assertio septem sacramentorum aduersus Martin. Lutherum' [a]1r), and 3 ('Epistola regia'; 2a1r) within a fine historiated woodcut border signed HH and attributed to Hans Holbein (McKerrow & Ferguson 8), general title (A1r) and pages C1r, and C3v within a fine historiated woodcut border (McKerrow and Ferguson 11), B4r within woodcut border (McKerrow and Ferguson 7), 7 handsome white-on-black woodcut initials, with blanks v3 and ²b4; lacking blanks C4 and v4, repaired tear on P4, lightly washed. Modern red morocco by J. P. Gray, Cambridge.

Hatfield House Library (stamp on title-page) — Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon, fifth Baron Kenyon (1917–1993; morocco label) Louis H. Silver (1902–1963, Chicago bibliophile; morocco label; sold, with the rest of his library to — The Newberry Library, Chicago (Sotheby’s London, 8 November 1965, lot 151). acquisition: purchased at the foregoing auction through John Fleming 

STC 13083; ESTC S110238

3 parts in one volume, 4to (9 x 8 1/4 in.; 229 zx 148 mm). Titles to parts 2 (Assertio septem sacramentorum aduersus Martin. Lutherum [a]1r), and 3 (Epistola regia; 2a1r) within a fine historiated woodcut border signed HH and attributed to Hans Holbein (McKerrow & Ferguson 8), general title (A1r) and pages C1r, and C3v within a fine historiated woodcut border (McKerrow and Ferguson 11), B4r within woodcut border (McKerrow and Ferguson 7), 7 handsome white-on-black woodcut initials, with blank v4; lacking bbalns C4, v4, and 2b4, repaired tear on P4, lightly washed. Modern red morocco.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

First edition. Henry's "Defense of the Seven Sacraments" against the challenge of Martin Luther was "one of the most successful pieces of Catholic polemics produced by the first generation of anti-Protestant writers," going through some twenty editions in the sixteenth century (Scarisbrick, 'Henry VIII', 1997, p. 113). The "Defense" was dedicated to Pope Leo X, who subsequently awarded Henry the title Defender of the Faith. Part 2 is a reissue of STC 13078. Imprint information is from part 2; parts 1 and 3 have no colophon. In part 1 (STC 21307a is part of this) the bull naming Henry "fidei defensor" is dated 5 id Oct. 1521, so this part was printed sometime later. Part 3 was apparently not written until March 1522, and it seems possible that parts 1 and 2 were made available before part 3 was printed. Very rare: evidently no complete copy has appeared at auction since the present copy was sold in 1965.