Richard Grafton, 1569

GRAFTON, Richard (c.1511-1573). A Chronicle at Large and mere History of the affayres of England and Kinges of the Same. London: Henry Denham for Richard Tottle and Humffrey Toye, March 1569.

Second edition of Grafton's history of England. Best known as a printer of the English Reformation, Grafton produced Matthew's Bible (1537) and the first Book of Common Prayer (1549). His Chronicle relied heavily on the earlier works of Hardyng (1543) and Hall (1548) that he also printed. ESTC 12147.

Folio, two volumes in one (279 x 180mm). Woodcut illustrations throughout, black letter (fore-edge margin of title extended, minor wormholes to preliminary pages, a handful of repairs throughout, repairs to table with final three leaves remargined.) 19th -century green stamped morocco, all edges gilt. Provenance: Henry Cunliffe Armiger, 1826-1894 (armorial bookplate; purchased from T & W Boone, 1855, note tipped in) – Mrs Hilda Leyel (her sale, Sotheby’s, 14-16 April 1958, lot 424).