The Noble & Joyous Boke Entytled Le Morte D'Arthur. [The Death of King Arthur].

The Shakespeare Head Press limited edition of Sir Thomas Malory's famed compilation of the Arthurian legends. Quarto, two volumes, original publisher's three quarter brick red morocco with gilt titles to the spine, top edge gilt with others untrimmed, marbled endpapers, text in two columns printed in red and black Caslon, illustrated with 22 woodcuts reproduced from Wynkyn de Worde's folio edition of 1498. The text is a meticulous reprint of Wynkyn de Worde’s 1498 folio, based on the sole surviving copy held in the Rylands Library, never before reprinted. Positioned between Caxton’s 1485 edition (edited by Sommer and later issued in facsimile by Scolar) and de Worde’s 1529 version—on which most modern texts rely—it fills a significant textual gap. Sommer observes that the woodcuts in the 1498 edition mark the earliest known effort to illustrate an entire text with engravings. Missing leaves in the Rylands copy have been supplemented from Caxton’s edition and are indicated by square brackets. One of three hundred & seventy numbered copies of this edition, of which 350 were for sale, printed at the Shakespeare Head Press from the unique copy of the edition printed by Wynkyn de Worde at Westminster in 1498 now in the John Rylands Library at Manchester, this is copy number 170. In fine condition. Housed in a custom slipcase which is also in fine condition.