Caxton's Books

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1070, 6 September 1930, Page 17

Caxton's Books

Caxton was an editor as well us printer and publisher, and Auckland

is fortunate in owning some of the first volumes from his press. The “Polycronicon,” printed in a black letter, carries the imprint: “Imprinted and set in forme by me Wyliyam Caxton.” The date is about 1482. In imitation of the manuscript books the

capital letters, at the beginning of chapters, are painted red. This was a practice that prevailed for 100 years after the invention of printing in Europe. This volume is not quite complete but is in very fair state of preservation. Another of Caxton’s books is the “Golden Legend” (“Lives of the Saints”). The work was revised and edited by Caxton himself and the text is illustrated with curious woodcuts. Even at that early date competition in publishing had forced Caxton to add illustrations to the printed story. The book was issued in 1454. It is remarkable, too. for the unconscious picture it reveals of the puritan trend of thought that then moulded opinion, for the first portion of the volume contains an abridgment of the Old Testament, and antedating the famous Breeches Bible, Caxton translated Genesis 111., 7: "They knewe than that they were naked, and than they toke fygge leves and sowed them togyder for to couer theyr membres in maner of breaches.” Only about 30 copies of the book are known to exist. “The Boke of Eneydos,” which the publisher states was “compyled by Vyrgyle ... translated oute of latyne Into frenshe and oute of frenshe reduced into Englysshe by me Wyllm Caxton,” is one of the twenty-two known copies; a complete one bound in green morocco.