Here begynnethe the boke calledde John bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles.

Accession number: 
PML 753
Author: 
Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375.
Published: 
London : Empentyd by Richard Pynson, the xxvii day of Janyuere. In the yere of oure lorde god M CCCClxxxxiiii [27 January 1494].
Description: 
[216] leaves : illustrations (9 woodcuts) ; 34 cm (fol.)
Credit Line: 
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1902.
Notes: 

Title from incipit, leaf a2r: Here begynnethe the boke calledde John bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles tra[n]slatid i[n]to englissh by John lydgate mo[n]ke of the monastery of seint edmu[n]des Byry at the co[m]mau[n]deme[n]t of teh worthy prynce humfrey duke of gloucestre beginnynge at adam [and] endinge with kinge iohn take prisoner in fraunce by prince Edwarde.
Imprint from colophon, leaf H3r: Here endith a compendious tretise and dyalogue of John Bochas: fructuously tretinge vpon the fall of Princys/ Princessys/ and other nobles. Finysshed the xxvii day of Janyuere. In the yere of oure lorde god M CCCClxxxxiiii. Emprentyd by Richard Pynson: dwellynge withoute the Temple barre of London. Laus Deo.
Printed in Pynson's types 2:101G and 5:114G.
Signatures: a-m⁸ n⁶ o-v⁸ A-F⁸ G⁶ H⁴: 216 leaves, leaf a1 blank.
Paper format: Median folio.
Woodcuts and printed initials; some initials spaces with printed guide letters. Woodcuts previously used by Jean Du Pré in Paris, 1483.
Adapted from Laurent de Premierfait's French version by John Lydgate.
PML copy leaf dimensions: 32.6 x 23 cm.
PML copy missing 2 leaves: a1 (blank) and H4; leaf a2 inlaid from another copy.

Binding: 
18th-century English gilt-tooled (in Harleian style) red calf over paper boards (34 x 24.5 cm), sewn on 6 supports. Marbled paper pastedowns and endleaves, with plain paper endleaves; decorative endbands.
Variant Title: 

Falle of princis

Inscriptions/Markings: 

Hand decoration: Rubrication unrealized where required. Annotations: No marginal notations in text.

Provenance: 
Robert Harding, inscription: "This boke is sir Roberde hardinges," 15th/16th century (leaf H3v); Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753), elephant crest on spine (Harleian-style binding more likely belongs to Fountaine), his sale, 11 June 1902, lot 109 for £435 to Quaritch; Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), purchased from Quaritch, Aug. 1902.
Classification: 
Department: