(CAXTON WILLIAM).

AN ATTRACTIVE LEAF FROM THE FIRST EDITION OF THE POLYCRONICON IN ENGLISH PRINTED BY ENGLAND'S FIRST PRINTER.

      [Westminster]: William Caxton, [between 2 July and 20 November, 1482] ""276 x 209 mm. (10 7/8 x 8 1/4"""")."" Single column 40 lines and headline black letter type. Paragraph flourishes in red. With marginalia in a contemporary hand. Slight marginal discoloration from damp a bit of light soiling to margins otherwise in fine condition. Duff 172; Goff H-267; STC 13438. This leaf and the following item are from the "Polycronicon" a world history written by Ranulf Higden (or Higdon ca. 1299-1363) a monk of Chester. This popular work originally composed in Latin was first rendered into English in 1387 by our translator John of Trevisa Chaplain to the Earl of Berkeley and his version is of considerable interest to scholars for its English usage. The whole of this work Caxton revised continuing the chronicle up to the year 1460. This continuation is the only extant piece of Caxton's own composition. William Caxton (ca. 1422-92) established the first printing press in England in 1476 at Westminster where he printed more than 100 books many of which he had edited or translated himself. The costs of the few complete Caxton works to be found today are staggering making leaves like this one the only affordable way to own a piece of work done by England's first printer. The present specimen is particularly desirable because it has unusually large margins.