The Life and Martyrdom of Saint Katherine of Alexandria; Virgin and Martyr [Half Title: The Lyf of Seynt Katerine] [Roxburghe Club]

London: Nichols and Sons, 1884. Limited Edition. Full Leather Hardcover. Near Fine/No Dust Jacket As Issued. Printed for the members of the Roxburghe Club, transcribed from the original manuscript with spelling and special characters of the Middle English preserved. This was the 112th publication by the society

Later full navy morocco, spine with gilt-stamped title, top edges gilt,
4to. [8], xix, [1], 86, [2], lxii, 188 pp.; 1 colored plate. With preface, notes, glossary, by Eugen Einenkel, (1853-1930) and Appendix: "The life of Saint Katherine. From the Royal ms. 17A. XXVII., &c., with its Latin original from the Cotton ms. Caligula A. VIII., &c. Ed.

The bindings are tight and square. Text clean, light even toning. minimal shelf handling wear. Minor spine lightening; front board edges has a bit of offsetting presumed from another book on a shelf.

Limited edition of approximately 40 copies. The book lists the 38 members that each received a copy and club membership is limited to 40. According to tradition, Katherine of Alexandria  was a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early fourth century at the hands of the emperor Maxentius.

According to her hagiography, she was both a princess and a noted scholar who became a Christian around the age of 14, converted hundreds of people to Christianity and was martyred around the age of eighteen. More than 1,100 years after Catherine's martyrdom, Joan of Arc identified her as one of the saints who appeared to and counseled her. [Wiki]

Background Information:
The Roxburghe Club was founded in 1812 and is the oldest society of bibliophiles in the world. Its membership is limited to 40, chosen from among those with distinguished libraries or collections, or with a scholarly interest in books. It has also been distinguished among the many publishing societies that have done so much in this country for history, letters, antiquity and other branches of literature and art, for the quality of its publications.

Roxburghe Club publications are produced in two states. Each member of the Club receives a copy bound in half calf. In the list of members of the Club, each recipient's name is printed in red ink. Normally, not more than 42 copies are printed in this form. Additionally, a member can print up to 300 copies of the title usually bound in cloth. These are available for sale.