The description of Britain

The description of Britain: Edition Description

Summary:

    Author: Ranulphus Higden
    Title: The description of Britain
    Other Authors: trans. by John Trevisa, ed. by William Caxton
    Place: Westminster
    Printer/Publisher: Caxton, William
    Date: [18 August 1480]
    Edition / Issue: Appendage to 1st edn of Caxton's Chronicles of England
    Main Language: English
    Note: The text comprises of some sections of Liber I of Higden's Polychrnoicon
    Contents:
      Item 1: Caxton's Prologue and Table of Contents [fol. 1b]

        Incipit: Hit is so that in many andl diuerse places the cornyn cronicles I of englond ben had). and also now late enprintedl at westmynstre Ancil for as moche as the descripcion of this londe whiche of olde tyme was namedl albyon and after Britayne is not descriued ne comynly ha&l ne the noblenesse and worthynesse of the same is not knowen

      Item 2: Description of Britain [fols 2a-25a]

        Incipit: The names of this Ilandl Capitulo . j. Il FIrst as Galfride saith this lande was namedl Albillon

      Item 3: Caxton's Colophon [fol. 29b]

    Physical Description:

    Object Description:

    Form: Codex

    Format: F°

    Ideal collation: [a-c8 d6.] 30 leaves, 30 blank.

    Layout description:

        Layout:
        • Columns: 1
        • Written Lines: 40
        • Locus: All

    Type:

    Decoration Description:

    List of Copies:

      • Copies as listed in ISTC
        • UK, London, British Library, C.10.b.24 = IB.55028, Description only.
        • UK, London, British Library 55029, fragments of Description, bound with IB.55003 (History of Jason).
        • UK, Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, Inc.3.J.1.1[3492-3493] both Chronicles and Description, in two parts.
        • UK, Edinburgh, National Library of Scotland (Inc.328: Beattie(1) p.199, 1 leaf)
        • UK, Glasgow University Library, (Hunterian), both Chronicles and Description.
        • UK, London, Lambeth Palace
        • UK, Manchester, The University of Manchester,The John Rylands Library, (2: R26166 (with variants in Description), 17316.2 (Description))
        • UK, Oxford, University of Oxford, Bodleian Library, S. Seld. d.4. Almost perfect, both Chronicles and Description
        • UK, Oxford, University of Oxford, Bodleian Library, Arch. G d.15; C-194(2) imperfect, both Chronicles and Description.
        • UK, Oxford, University of Oxford, Bodleian Library, Douce 145; C-193 (3) Description only.
        • UK, Oxford, St John's College
        • USA, Baltimore MD, Johns Hopkins Univ., John Work Garrett Library
        • USA, New York NY, New York Public Library, Berg Collection (DeR 29.13 + 35.6)
        • USA, New York NY, Pierpont Morgan Library (Chronicles, DeR 29.11; Description [3], DeR 35.4, .5, .13)
        • USA, San Marino CA, The Huntington Library (DeR 29.32 + 35.17)

    Bibliography:

    Administration Information: