Accession number
PML 724
Creator
Jacobus, de Voragine, approximately 1229-1298.
Object title
Here begynneth the legende named in latyn legenda aurea, that is to say in englyshe the golden legende.
Published
Westmestre : [Wynkyn de Worde], the xx day of May, the yere of our lord M CCCClxxxxiii [20 May 1493].
Description
[4], primo-CCCCxxix (with errors) leaves : illustrations (woodcuts) ; 28.5 cm (fol.)
Credit line
Purchased with the Bennett collection, 1902.
Notes
Title from half-title page, leaf [1]/1r: Here begynneth the legende named in latyn legenda aurea, that is to say in englyshe the golden legende. For lyke as passeth golde in valewe al other metallys / soo thys Legende excedeth all other bokes.
Imprint from colophon, leaf gg4v: Thus endeth the lege[n]de named in latyn legenda aurea / that is to say in englisshe the golde[n] lege[n]de. For lyke as passeth golde in valewe al other metallis / soo thys Legende excedeth all other bokes / wherin ben conteyned alle the hyghe and grete festys of our lorde. The festys of our blessyd lady / The lyues passio[n]s [and] myracles of mani other saintes hystoryes [and] actes / as all alonge here afore is made mencyon / whiche werke I dyde accomplisshed at the commaundeme[n]te and requeste of the noble and puyssaunte erle. [and] my specyal good lord wyllyam erle of Arondel / And now hane renewed [and] fynysshed it at westmestre the xx day of May / The yere of our lord M CCCClxxxxiii / And in the viii yere of the reygne off kynge Henry the vii / By me wyllyam Caxton.
Printed in De Worde's types 1:120G and 2:114G.
Signatures: [1⁴]; a-e⁸ F² f-z [et] [us]⁸ ē⁴ A-Y aa-ee⁸ ff⁶ gg⁴: 436 leaves.
Woodcuts.
Variant settings are noted in BMC.
PML copy leaf dimensions: 27.3 x 18.8 cm.
PML copy in second setting.
PML copy missing 10 leaves: [1]/1.4, s4.5, x8, ff6, and gg1-4, previously in manuscript, now all relaced in facsimile.
Imprint from colophon, leaf gg4v: Thus endeth the lege[n]de named in latyn legenda aurea / that is to say in englisshe the golde[n] lege[n]de. For lyke as passeth golde in valewe al other metallis / soo thys Legende excedeth all other bokes / wherin ben conteyned alle the hyghe and grete festys of our lorde. The festys of our blessyd lady / The lyues passio[n]s [and] myracles of mani other saintes hystoryes [and] actes / as all alonge here afore is made mencyon / whiche werke I dyde accomplisshed at the commaundeme[n]te and requeste of the noble and puyssaunte erle. [and] my specyal good lord wyllyam erle of Arondel / And now hane renewed [and] fynysshed it at westmestre the xx day of May / The yere of our lord M CCCClxxxxiii / And in the viii yere of the reygne off kynge Henry the vii / By me wyllyam Caxton.
Printed in De Worde's types 1:120G and 2:114G.
Signatures: [1⁴]; a-e⁸ F² f-z [et] [us]⁸ ē⁴ A-Y aa-ee⁸ ff⁶ gg⁴: 436 leaves.
Woodcuts.
Variant settings are noted in BMC.
PML copy leaf dimensions: 27.3 x 18.8 cm.
PML copy in second setting.
PML copy missing 10 leaves: [1]/1.4, s4.5, x8, ff6, and gg1-4, previously in manuscript, now all relaced in facsimile.
Binding
Modern full maroon goatskin over boards (28.5 x 21 cm), sewn on 5 supports by Duprez-Lahey. Plain paper pastedowns and endleaves; plain endbands; gilt edges.
Variant title
Golden legende
Inscriptions/Markings
Hand decoration: Rubrication not required. Annotations: Contemporary/early marginal notations in several hands sporadically throughout volume.
Provenance
Katryn Skot, incised signature, 16th century (leaf a1r); John Ratcliffe (1707-1776), Bibliotheca Ratcliffiana sale, Christie's, 27 March 1776, lot 1670 for £ 9.15.0 to: Gustavus Brander (1720-1787), his sale, Leigh & Sotheby, 8 Feb. 1790, lot 1015, to Leigh; John Dent (1760-1826), his sale, Evans, March 1827, lot 1326 to: Thomas Thorpe (bookseller), cat. 1827, no. 3857; Richard Bennett (1849-1930), armorial bookplate (front pastedown, preserved from previous binding) and purchase notes: No. 258, 24/4/97 and price code: omm/[??] (rear pastedown, preserved from previous binding); Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913), purchased with the Bennett collection, 1902.
Classification
Catalog link
Century
Department