Lot description
3,472 leaves in 9 volumes (15 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.; 393 x 266 mm). Printed on heavy Royal Folio paper. A crisp clean copy, near-perfect in its preservation, one of, if not the, finest copy extant. Only isolated instances of marginal tears, light stains or the occasional worm track. With thirty-two original blank leaves, including many not recorded by Haberman (for complete collation, inquire of department). Uniformly bound in contemporary calf over heavy oak boards with interior bevelling, paneled in blind, center panel stamped with the initials of the original owner R[ichard] B[ruarne], panel with multiple fillets and four floral cornerpieces, within a double roll-tooled border, the spines in six compartments with raised bands, later morocco lettering pieces, medieval Latin manuscript leaves used as pastedowns, five volumes with Richard Bruarne's holograph manuscript contents notation on small parchment sheets pasted inside lower boards. Rebacked, original spines laid down, clasps perished, on all volumes. Scattered wormholes on three volumes, a few pastedowns lacking, old scrapes and scratches overall, outer borders of two volumes expertly restored, spine bands. Folding cases with similar spine treatment in calf, ochre cloth sides, lined with rust-colored velvet.
