Printing and the Mind of Man books

First edition; folio (30.5 x 19.5 cm); text in Latin, woodcut title device and large woodcut arms on verso, one folding plate, 87 woodcuts in text of which 4 are full-page, decorative woodcut initials and head- and tail-pieces, title page trimmed, partially restored and washed (possibly from another copy), scattered light foxing; later calf with unidentified gilt armorial device to covers, gilt lettering to spine, short split to spine, extremities slightly rubbed, otherwise an overall very good copy; [xvii], 240, [2](blank)pp.

Folio (361 x 229 mm). Contemporary calf, rebacked with old red morocco spine label laid down, edges marbled, in a red quarter morocco solander box. Engraved portrait by Martin Droeshout above the verses To the Reader on verso of the first leaf, title with fleur-de-lis device (McKerrow 263), double column text within typographical rules, woodcut initials. Covers worn and repaired, free endpapers renewed; first owner's signature on blank recto of portrait causing show-through and a single tiny burnhole from the ink in the hatched background, restored, E6 folded in the press at lower corner and so printed without loss, F3 with tiny split at border rule, 2Hlv with 18 letters neatly supplied by an early hand in pen and ink as a result of light inking in the press, sig. 2H slightly dampstained towards fore edge, 3Z2 with press tear affecting nine lines and partial loss of a word, about five tiny rust holes and about eight natural paper flaws affecting approximately thirty letters throughout, a few very minor nicks, tears and trifling wormholes, all marginal, a few very minor stains; overall, a very good, fresh, unsophisticated copy.

Third edition, 2 vols, 8vo, xvi, 501, [63]; vii, 559 pp., contemporary tree calf gilt, red morocco labels, some pale foxing, an excellent set.