The Pastime of People, or, The Chronicles of Divers Realms;…

London: Rivington et al., 1811. Full morocco, 12 inches tall. A spectacular binding by Bedford in full red morocco with gilt raised bands, superb floral gilt tooling to the panels and triple gilt fillets framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges. With the bookplate of Joseph Spencer Graydon. With 18 magnificent woodcuts, mostly of the early English monarchs. This is the most well known work of the 16th century John Rastell, being a chronicle dealing with English history from the earliest times to the reign of Richard III. Rastell was also the first English printer of polyphonic music. A wonderful copy of this entertaining history.