[ Bird and Bull Press].. Three Lions and the Cross of Lorraine: Bartholomaeus Anglicus, John of Trevisa, John Tate, Wynkyn de Worde, and De Proprietatibus Rerum. A leaf book with essays by Howell Heaney, Dr. Lotte Hellinga, Dr. Richard Hills.. Newtown, Pa.: Bird & Bull Press, 1992., 1992.

Price: US$2000.00 + shipping

Description: The most important book on papermaking history ever published by Henry Morris, based around a leaf of the first English book printed on paper made in England by her first papermaker John Tate. It was out of print upon publication Folio. 40 pp. plus nineteen pages of facsimiles of the original woodcut illustrations. Quarter burgundy morocco over tan paper boards, gilt black morocco spine label, decoration in red on front cover. A fine copy, with publisher's printed slip laid in. One of 138 copies with an original leaf from the 1495 Wynkyn De Worde book, in a protective sleeve at the end of the volume. John Tate (1448-1507/8) built a papermill near Hereford sometime before 1495, and the paper he produced was of high quality. With De Proprietatibus RerumÕs extending to 480 leaves, de WordeÕs order for paper was a large one, and TateÕs paper was used in a number of the printerÕs subsequent books. Tate died a wealthy man, but the paper mill closed shortly after his death, apparently the victim of foreign competition. The next paper mill in England was not built until 1588.

Seller: Michael R. Thompson Books, A.B.A.A., Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.