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].