THE GOUERNAYLE of HELTHE (HEALTH): WITH the MEDECYNE STOMACKE. With Introductory Remarks and Notes by William Blades.

London, Blades, East & Blades, 1858.. Reprinted in 1858 from William Caxton's edition of 1490, and LIMITED TO 55 COPIES ONLY. 8vo, approximately 200 x 135 mm, 8 x 5¼ inches, frontispiece with tissue guard, the text consists of a complete reproduction of Caxton's print in gothic type and "an annotated reprint" in roman type, pages: viii, [3], 4- 25, [1], [36], [40], followed by 8 pages of Glossary, plus the prospectus for the Treatise on the Typographical Works of William Caxton, bound in full publisher's black morocco, gilt border to covers, rebacked to match, no lettering or label, all edges red, new endpapers. Small neat repair to fore-edge of upper cover, slight fading to edges of covers, small blind stamp to top of title page, 1 page slightly protruding from text block, tissue guard browned and with a small chip at fore-edge, contents clean and bright, binding tight and firm. A very good copy. See: A Bibliography of Printing by Bigmore and Wyman, page 64: "An effort has been made, by the use of Types very similar to those employed by Caxton, to give this reprint something of the Appearance of the Original. To effect this still further, the Types were cast expressly in Pewter, which, from its Softness, yields an Impression resembling more the Productions of the early Printers than could be obtained from harder materials. Great care has been taken to make the Text an accurate Reproduction of the Original". (Preface). Fifteenth century books on health are very rare. This is a health maintenance manual focusing on how to keep men (not women) healthy, with occasional notes on ill-health. Both parts were published anonymously and The Governayle of Helthe has been variously attributed to John de Bordeaux and also to Bartholomaeus Montagnana, the younger, the Medecyne of Ye Stomacke has been attributed to John Lydgate. Caxton's edition was not reprinted until our edition of 1858 which is beautifully printed. William Blades the editor and publisher was deeply interested in Caxton and wrote the Life and Typography of William Caxton, England's First Printer, which was published in 1861-1863. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST.