The Book of Vagabonds and Beggars -- with a Vocabulary of Their Language and a Preface by Martin Luther

1932 1st Edition Penguin Press H/B, 4 b&w plates (woodcut facsimiles) EX-LIBRARY Tight & substantially clean internally with occasional light smudge, ex-library WITHDRAWN markings/labels restricted to sl foxed eps & spine. Gilt almost entirely rubbed from upper spine-title but still partially present on lower imprint (beneath library mark). Early version of 'Penguin' insignia blind-stamped rear board. Covers tips sl rubbed and black cloth surface handled with some (but almost opaque, insignificant) staining visible when held to light. A very sound copy indeed of rare and important volume. Based on first English translation of the 1528 by J C Hotten[1860], with corrections from other sources. Content is important to the companion histories of language, publishing & printing (versions / interpretations / typefaces etc), and for modern publishing history (pre-paperback Penguin-- see title-page - Penguin' insignia imprint, also blind-stamped rear cover). The plates are reproductions of the woodcut title-pages of Medieval editions. RARE Penguin HB 1st Edition ('Vagabonds' 1932)