![HYLTON, Walter (d.1396). Scala perfectionis [in English: Scale of perfection]. [Westminster: Wynkyn de Worde], 1494.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2001/NYR/2001_NYR_09880_0152_000(040345).jpg?w=1)
Details
HYLTON, Walter (d.1396). Scala perfectionis [in English: Scale of perfection]. [Westminster: Wynkyn de Worde], 1494.
2o (272 x 195 mm). Collation: a4 b-q8 r6 s4+1; A8 B6. 135 leaves (of 149, without the 14 leaves after s4+1 comprising an additional Book 3 which are lacking in all but four copies, possibly constituting a second issue). 33 lines with head-lines and foliation. Type: Duff textura 12:114. One- and two-line Lombard capitals, 5-line decorated woodcut capitals on b1r and i2r, shoulder notes. a1r with woodcut (165 x 103 mm) of Mary suckling the Christ child in a Gothic interior, four lines xylographic text in panel at bottom (Hodnett 463). Woodcut device with initials of William Caxton (McKerrow 2) on recto of s4+1. (Title cut round and neatly inlaid, next 4 and last 5 leaves with upper corner and portions of upper and fore-margins neatly renewed without evident loss of text, a2-4 with small repairs to inner margins, a few small wormholes catching a letter or two of text on first 31 leaves, a single wormhole to s5 catching one letter on last page, a few stains, discreetly washed). Modern chocolate brown morocco extensively gilt with an overall design of tudor roses and foliage, inner turn-ins similarly gilt, vellum endleaves and doublures, edges gilt, by Riviere. Provenance: Estelle Doheny (morocco bookplate; purchased from William H. Robinson Ltd, May 1943) -- donated to SMS 1943.
FIRST EDITION, comprising one of the earliest books printed by Wynkyn de Worde after taking over William Caxton's shop and printing materials after Caxton's death in 1491. WITH A VERSE ENVOI AT THE END STATING THAT THE BOOK WAS PRINTED "IN WILLIAM CAXTON'S HOUSE." The Scala perfectionis, an important English mystical text, was the work of Hylton, head of an Augustinian house of canons at Thurgarten near Newark in Nottinghamshire. It is conceived as a guide to the purification of the soul in its journey to a spiritual Jerusalem, which is depicted as a state of "contemplation in perfect love of God." The text circulated widely in manuscript; de Worde's editio princeps was issued at the behest of Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509), Countess of Richmond and Derby, mother of King Henry VIII, who had previously been involved with Caxton's printing office. A copy of the Scala perfectionis is known to have been presented by Margaret and Queen Dowager Elizabeth Woodville to their lady-in-waiting, Mary Roos; George Painter observes that "the royal ladies had evidently clubbed together and paid for part of the edition to give to their friends" and speculates that "this procedure is typical of Caxton's whole system of patronage, as inherited by Wynkyn" (William Caxton: A Biography, p.187). In 1509, the year of her death, Wynkyn de Worde styled himself "prynter unto the moost excellent pryncesse my lady the kynge's moder" (E.M.G. Routh, Lady Margaret Beaufort, 1924). Margaret also underwrote or encouraged the preparation of English translations of the Imitatio Christi, a Sarum breviary, and Henry Watson's prose version of Sebastian Brandt's Stultifera navis.
Books 1 and 2 of the Scale of paradise contains 139 chapters. The introductory note on a2r reads: "Here begynnen the chapytours of this present volume of Waltere Hylton namyd in laten Scala perfecconis englisshed the ladder of perfeccon which volume is devided in two partyes. The fyrst boke of this present volume conteyneth.lxxxxiii. chapitours The seconde book.xlvi. whiche hole volume amonuteth.Cxxxix.chapitours." Book 2 commences at i2r; at the bottom of s4v is a brief note: "Thus finysshith this present boke whiche expowneth many notable doctrynes in contemplacyon..." Nevertheless, a short Book 3 was apparently appended, perhaps late in the production process. Comprising only 14 leaves, it is lacking in all but four of the 15 or so extant copies, a number of which lack additional leaves.
An unusual verse envoi appears on s5r, the first stanza of which furnishes information on the book's production and offers a loyal tribute to William Caxton, the printer's deceased master, while the second stanza names and salutes de Worde's patron, Margaret Beaufort:
"Infinite laude wyth thankynges many folde
I yelde to god me socouryng wyth his grace
This boke to finysshe whiche that ye beholde
Scale of perfeccion calde in every place
Wherof thauctor Walter Hilton was
And Wynkyn de worde this hatt set in prynt
In Willyam Caxstons hows to fyll the case
God rest his soule. In joy ther mot it stynt..."
This heuenly boke more precyous than golde
Was late direct wyth great humylyte
For godly plesur, theron to beholde
Unto the right noble Margaret as ye see
The kyngis moder of excellent bounte
Henry the seventh that Jhu hym preserve
This myghty pryncesse hath comaunded me
Temprynt this boke her grace for to deserve."
CIBN H-338; Duff 203; HC 9068; Madsen 2058; Oates 4118; STC 14042; Pr 9694; Goff H-564.
2o (272 x 195 mm). Collation: a4 b-q8 r6 s4+1; A8 B6. 135 leaves (of 149, without the 14 leaves after s4+1 comprising an additional Book 3 which are lacking in all but four copies, possibly constituting a second issue). 33 lines with head-lines and foliation. Type: Duff textura 12:114. One- and two-line Lombard capitals, 5-line decorated woodcut capitals on b1r and i2r, shoulder notes. a1r with woodcut (165 x 103 mm) of Mary suckling the Christ child in a Gothic interior, four lines xylographic text in panel at bottom (Hodnett 463). Woodcut device with initials of William Caxton (McKerrow 2) on recto of s4+1. (Title cut round and neatly inlaid, next 4 and last 5 leaves with upper corner and portions of upper and fore-margins neatly renewed without evident loss of text, a2-4 with small repairs to inner margins, a few small wormholes catching a letter or two of text on first 31 leaves, a single wormhole to s5 catching one letter on last page, a few stains, discreetly washed). Modern chocolate brown morocco extensively gilt with an overall design of tudor roses and foliage, inner turn-ins similarly gilt, vellum endleaves and doublures, edges gilt, by Riviere. Provenance: Estelle Doheny (morocco bookplate; purchased from William H. Robinson Ltd, May 1943) -- donated to SMS 1943.
FIRST EDITION, comprising one of the earliest books printed by Wynkyn de Worde after taking over William Caxton's shop and printing materials after Caxton's death in 1491. WITH A VERSE ENVOI AT THE END STATING THAT THE BOOK WAS PRINTED "IN WILLIAM CAXTON'S HOUSE." The Scala perfectionis, an important English mystical text, was the work of Hylton, head of an Augustinian house of canons at Thurgarten near Newark in Nottinghamshire. It is conceived as a guide to the purification of the soul in its journey to a spiritual Jerusalem, which is depicted as a state of "contemplation in perfect love of God." The text circulated widely in manuscript; de Worde's editio princeps was issued at the behest of Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509), Countess of Richmond and Derby, mother of King Henry VIII, who had previously been involved with Caxton's printing office. A copy of the Scala perfectionis is known to have been presented by Margaret and Queen Dowager Elizabeth Woodville to their lady-in-waiting, Mary Roos; George Painter observes that "the royal ladies had evidently clubbed together and paid for part of the edition to give to their friends" and speculates that "this procedure is typical of Caxton's whole system of patronage, as inherited by Wynkyn" (William Caxton: A Biography, p.187). In 1509, the year of her death, Wynkyn de Worde styled himself "prynter unto the moost excellent pryncesse my lady the kynge's moder" (E.M.G. Routh, Lady Margaret Beaufort, 1924). Margaret also underwrote or encouraged the preparation of English translations of the Imitatio Christi, a Sarum breviary, and Henry Watson's prose version of Sebastian Brandt's Stultifera navis.
Books 1 and 2 of the Scale of paradise contains 139 chapters. The introductory note on a2r reads: "Here begynnen the chapytours of this present volume of Waltere Hylton namyd in laten Scala perfecconis englisshed the ladder of perfeccon which volume is devided in two partyes. The fyrst boke of this present volume conteyneth.lxxxxiii. chapitours The seconde book.xlvi. whiche hole volume amonuteth.Cxxxix.chapitours." Book 2 commences at i2r; at the bottom of s4v is a brief note: "Thus finysshith this present boke whiche expowneth many notable doctrynes in contemplacyon..." Nevertheless, a short Book 3 was apparently appended, perhaps late in the production process. Comprising only 14 leaves, it is lacking in all but four of the 15 or so extant copies, a number of which lack additional leaves.
An unusual verse envoi appears on s5r, the first stanza of which furnishes information on the book's production and offers a loyal tribute to William Caxton, the printer's deceased master, while the second stanza names and salutes de Worde's patron, Margaret Beaufort:
"Infinite laude wyth thankynges many folde
I yelde to god me socouryng wyth his grace
This boke to finysshe whiche that ye beholde
Scale of perfeccion calde in every place
Wherof thauctor Walter Hilton was
And Wynkyn de worde this hatt set in prynt
In Willyam Caxstons hows to fyll the case
God rest his soule. In joy ther mot it stynt..."
This heuenly boke more precyous than golde
Was late direct wyth great humylyte
For godly plesur, theron to beholde
Unto the right noble Margaret as ye see
The kyngis moder of excellent bounte
Henry the seventh that Jhu hym preserve
This myghty pryncesse hath comaunded me
Temprynt this boke her grace for to deserve."
CIBN H-338; Duff 203; HC 9068; Madsen 2058; Oates 4118; STC 14042; Pr 9694; Goff H-564.