This, the first edition of The book of common prayer, is sometimes referred to as The first prayer book of Edward VI. It is one of several editions printed in 1549, two others having been issued by Whitchurch himself, three by Richard Grafton, and one (in Worcester) by John Oswen.

Colophon: Imprinted at London in Fletestrete, at the sign of the Sunne ouer against the conduyte, by Edvvarde VVhitchurche. The seuenth daye of Marche, the yeare of our Lorde, 1549.

Signatures: [fleuron]℗ø Áı, ℗øÁı B-Íœ Ḱı L-X́œ Ýı ℗œ́þ ℗œa-℗œéœ ℗œf́ı(-℗œf8)

Title within woodcut border incorporating royal arms and printer's initials--cf. McKerrow & Ferguson. Title-page borders 68.

Initials; printed marginal notes; leaves printed on both sides; all edges gilt; vellum binding.

STC (2nd ed.) 16267

ESTC S109513

Benton, J.H. The Book of common prayer, 1

Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy bound by Francis Bedford in brown morocco tooled in blind and gilt. The blank leaves (℗øA8 and ℗œ4) are wanting. The text is annotated throughout in an early bookhand, with underlines and manicules, as well as numerous headings and marginal notes. An endpaper leaf taken from a previous binding of this copy is tipped-in at front and contains an early inscription that reads, "N.B. This is so great a curiosity I apprehended [the] value of it to be at least ten Guineas." Tipped onto the same sheet is a letter from Kenneth F. Gibbs, dated June, 1905. Present on the front pastedown are an auctioneer's description, the armorial bookplate of William Gott, and an inscription signed by Gott regarding the provenance of the copy. Also housed with this copy is a letter to Josiah Benton from E. W. Ernst and a manuscript note regarding the history of The book of common prayer.