MORE, Sir Thomas (1478-1535). The Workes. London: John Cawod, John Waly, and RIcharde Tottell, 1557.

The first edition in English of the complete works of Sir Thomas More. More, the “man for all seasons,” was a Catholic scholar and humanist executed by the order of King Henry VIII for refusing to sign the oath acknowledging Henry as head of the Church. A student of Thomas Linacre and William Grocyn, More was a noted philosopher—most famous for his 1516 Utopia—and himself an ardent burner of heretics. His nephew William Rastall edited this volume while living in Louvain as a Catholic exile. This copy contains three 16th-century purchase inscriptions from Edward Hynd, who, like Thomas More, was associated with Lincoln's Inn. Pforzheimer 743; STC 18076.

Folio (264 x 180mm). With the leaf inserted between 2C5 and 2C6. Woodcut title border with the Queen's arms in top compartment [McKerrow and Ferguson 81], woodcut initials (title page fore-edge margin extended; repairs to the lower margins of a few leaves, just touching text in a few places; leaf r7 with a repair about one inch into second text column, and about 25 words supplied in pen facsimile; minor paper flaw to 2C2 costing a couple of letters; final 3 leaves repaired with margins extended; some minor intermittent toning and spotting). 19th-century blindstamped calf, all edges gilt, gilt supralibros on boards (rebacked). Provenance: Edward Hynd(?) of Lincoln's Inn (three notes of purchase each dated 30 October 1569, at the end of the table of contents and on pp. 832 and 1269, being the ends of the Confutation of Tyndale of the Treatise on communion) – John Holmes, 1758-1841 (gilt supralibros) – Virtue and Cahill Library, of St John’s Cathedral Church in Portsmouth, bookplate with 1967 deaccession stamp.

The condition description of this lot has been updated to include that leaf r7 has a repair about one inch into second text column and about 25 words are supplied in pen facsimile.