Property from the Aline Elwes McDonnell Trust

(London: Thomas Barthelet, May 29, 1543). 4to. ff. (iv), xciiii (A4, A-Y4, Z6). Black letter. Introduction presumed to be by Henry VIII. Title-page illustrated with architectural woodcut border; woodcut tail-piece on A4; woodcut initials throughout text. Full contemporary brown calf, stamped in gilt, rebacked, boards and extremities rubbed and moderately worn and scratched; edges stained red; armorial book-plate of English barrister and Tory politician, Edward Conyers (1693-1742) on front paste-down; old pencil inscription on verso of front blank; contemporary inscription at top of title-page, soiling to same; scattered soiling and spotting to text; bottom corners and edges of final four text leaves worn, especially to final leaf with loss and closed tear. STC 5168

Commonly called the King's Book, this was published at the behest of English King Henry VIII following his break from Rome. Helping to define the doctrine of the English Church, it is a revised and enlarged edition of the 1537 The Institution of a Christan Man (known as the Bishop's Book).

This example does not exactly correspond with any copies listed in STC. This copy with "This boke...not to be solde aboue. xvi. d." on colophon; A1v, line 2 "boke"; A2r, line 2 "Kynge"; N4v catchword "the", line one ends "pleasure, and"; Z2r, line 2 ends "and goodness,", line 3 ends "them for"; colophon reads "Barthelet". This copy with printed foliation.