The woodcut border which is found in some copies of the Ales and
Latteburius is the earliest found in English printing, though Caxton
uses woodcut engravings in the text (for the first time) in the same
year. It consists of birds and flowers grouped on long winding stems,
the four pieces which form the border measuring in all not less than 11¼
× 7¾ in. (no quite intact copy is known, the binder’s ruthless knife
invariably removing a portion). A full-size reproduction of it is given
in E. G. Duff’s ©Facsimiles of English types© (Lond. 1895).
_Copies known._
1. British Museum. Without border. Wanting a 4, a 5. Re-bound lately,
but with the original sides. Owned by William Wodebrigge,
sub-prior of Butleigh, co. Suffolk: then by John Warner: then by
Cranmer: then by lord Lumley. In the Old Royal Library: once 520.
9. 12, now C. 38. g. 1.
2. Bodleian. Without border. Perfect: in original Oxford binding,
plain sides. Owned by Roger Balkwell in the 15th cent. Marked A.
5. 4 Art., then C. 7. 15 Art., now Auct. R. supra 10.