8. Specimen of the early _Block-books_, or books printed from engraved
blocks before the invention of moveable types; being the Apocalypse,
represented in a series of rudely-engraved scenes, with short
explanatory descriptions.
This is a copy of the edition called by Mr. S. Leigh Sotheby, in his
_Principia Typographica_, the Second; it belonged to Mr. Douce, who
bought it for thirty-one guineas at Mr. Inglis' sale[375].
9. The first book printed from moveable types; being a very fine copy,
of the grand Latin Bible, printed by Gutenberg at Mentz about 1455. See
p. 202.
A copy was sold at the auction of the library of the Duke of Sussex,
in 1844, for the moderate sum of £190; when the same copy, however,
was re-sold at the auction of the library of Dr. Daly, Bishop of
Cashel, in 1858, it produced no less than £596.
10. A copy of the first book printed in the English language, being _The
Recuyell of the Histories of Troy_, printed by Caxton, most probably at
Bruges, about 1472.
This copy wants three leaves; it was given to the Library in 1750,
by James Bowen, a painter of Shrewsbury, well known as a local
antiquarian. A second copy, which wants seven leaves, is also in the
Library. A copy, wanting forty-four leaves, was sold at Utterson's
sale in 1852 to the Earl of Ashburnham for £155.
11. The English Bible, translated by Myles Coverdale from the Vulgate,
and printed abroad in 1535.
This copy of the first complete Bible printed in our language, is
one of the largest and soundest known to be in existence, although,
like almost all other copies, it wants the title. It was formerly in
the possession of Selden. A facsimile title, engraved by Mr. Fry, of
Bristol, from the Marq. of Northampton's copy, accompanies it,
together with another leaf in facsimile, from the Earl of
Leicester's copy. Another and more imperfect copy came to the
Library among the books bequeathed by Mrs. Denyer. In 1854 a copy
nearly perfect, having only two leaves in facsimile by Mr. Harris,
was sold at Mr. Dunn Gardner's sale for the large sum of £364; and a
very imperfect copy was sold for £190 in 1857.
12. Hieronymus (_rectius_, Rufinus) _de Symbolo Apostolorum_; printed at
Oxford in 1468. See p. 111.