DAY, Richard (1552-c.1606). A Booke of Christian Prayers, collected out of the auncient writers, and best learned in our tyme . London: John Day 1578. 4° (190 x 133 mm). Ruled in red, title within woodcut border depicting the Tree of Jesse [McKerrow and Ferguson 128], full-page woodcut of Queen Elizabeth praying on the verso, each page of text within a woodcut border with scenes mostly from the Bible and the Dance of Death, John Day's woodcut device of a skeleton on the final leaf [McKerrow 128]. (A very few repairs to margins, occasional light soiling). Late 19th century morocco, decoratively panelled in blind, edges gilt (joints rubbed, light sun-fading to front panel). Provenance: ?Amherst (anonymous armorial bookplate with the motto 'Victoriam Concordia Crescit') -- Thomas Edward Watson (bookplate; by descent to the present owners). FIRST EDITION of this notable example of John Day's typographical skills, the book sometimes known as 'Queen Elizabeth's Prayer Book'. Richard Day compiled the prayers in this work; father and son collaborating 'in the production of what are, in effect, Protestant books of hours that pay tribute throughout to Elizabeth as a Reformation queen. In an outstanding example of iconoclasm, Elizabeth receives the place of honor in collections of prayers comparable to the Horae, in which the Blessed Virgin Mary once reigned supreme as Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.' (King p.114). In 1569 John Day printed the rare Christian Prayers and Meditations , reputedly designed for the personal use of Queen Elizabeth, the only complete copy of which is now at Lambeth Palace. There are sufficient textual differences between the 1569 and 1578 editions to see them as independent works. The two share the smaller woodcut borders, but the famous portrait of Elizabeth at prayer, and the series of borders with larger female figures are new to the 1578 edition. The borders can be divided into three series: scenes from the life of Christ, illustrations of proverbs and virtues, and a Dance of Death. The first series of woodcuts is signed by 'C.I.', and the Dance of Death by 'G', except for the penultimate woodcut signed 'CT'. ESTC S121845; King, John N. Tudor Royal Iconography, Literature and Art in an Age of Religious Crisis , Princeton 1989.
DAY, Richard (1552-c.1606). A Booke of Christian Prayers, collected out of the auncient writers, and best learned in our tyme . London: John Day 1578. 4° (190 x 133 mm). Ruled in red, title within woodcut border depicting the Tree of Jesse [McKerrow and Ferguson 128], full-page woodcut of Queen Elizabeth praying on the verso, each page of text within a woodcut border with scenes mostly from the Bible and the Dance of Death, John Day's woodcut device of a skeleton on the final leaf [McKerrow 128]. (A very few repairs to margins, occasional light soiling). Late 19th century morocco, decoratively panelled in blind, edges gilt (joints rubbed, light sun-fading to front panel). Provenance: ?Amherst (anonymous armorial bookplate with the motto 'Victoriam Concordia Crescit') -- Thomas Edward Watson (bookplate; by descent to the present owners). FIRST EDITION of this notable example of John Day's typographical skills, the book sometimes known as 'Queen Elizabeth's Prayer Book'. Richard Day compiled the prayers in this work; father and son collaborating 'in the production of what are, in effect, Protestant books of hours that pay tribute throughout to Elizabeth as a Reformation queen. In an outstanding example of iconoclasm, Elizabeth receives the place of honor in collections of prayers comparable to the Horae, in which the Blessed Virgin Mary once reigned supreme as Mother of God and Queen of Heaven.' (King p.114). In 1569 John Day printed the rare Christian Prayers and Meditations , reputedly designed for the personal use of Queen Elizabeth, the only complete copy of which is now at Lambeth Palace. There are sufficient textual differences between the 1569 and 1578 editions to see them as independent works. The two share the smaller woodcut borders, but the famous portrait of Elizabeth at prayer, and the series of borders with larger female figures are new to the 1578 edition. The borders can be divided into three series: scenes from the life of Christ, illustrations of proverbs and virtues, and a Dance of Death. The first series of woodcuts is signed by 'C.I.', and the Dance of Death by 'G', except for the penultimate woodcut signed 'CT'. ESTC S121845; King, John N. Tudor Royal Iconography, Literature and Art in an Age of Religious Crisis , Princeton 1989.
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
