13 Year Books of Henry VI, Years 21-39. (London, 1556-1567)

1556. An Impressive Collection of Year Books with Contemporary Manuscript Annotations [Year Books]. Henry VI [1421-1471], King of England. De Termino Michaelis Anno XXI. Regni Regis Henrici Sexti. [London: Imprynted...In fletestrete within Temple Barre at the signe of the hand [and] starre, by Richard Tottill, 1567]. lviii ff. [Bound with] [12 Year Books of Henry VI, Years 22-39]. [London: Richard Tottell, 1556-1567]. Folio (11" x 7-1/2"). Contemporary blind paneled calf, central blind arabesques with monogram "TW", holes for ties or catches at fore-edges, initials "CT" blind-stamped to front board, raised bands and blind fillets to spine, manuscript waste front pastedown. Light rubbing, shallow scuffing and minor worming to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, spine ends and corners mended with calf, light creasing to spine, small hole to front joint near foot, rear joint starting at head, corners bumped, hinges cracked, pastedowns starting to loosen but secure, minor worming to rear pastedown, faint offsetting and light edgewear to front free endpaper, early annotations to its verso and to rear free endpaper and pastedown. Moderate toning to interior, light foxing and soiling in a few places, a few folded corners, small holes or clean tears to margins of a few leaves affecting text on two leaves without loss to legibility, negligible worming at fore-edge of last ten or so leaves, early and later annotations in ink and pencil in at least three hands to many leaves, 3-1/2" x 7-1/2" sheet with early manuscript text to both sides laid in. An impressive collection. $8,500. * Covers regnal years 21-22, 27-28 and 30-39 of Henry VI. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the Year Books, the primary body of early English court reports. A cornerstone of the common law, they are also a primary source for our knowledge of law in medieval England and useful documents of contemporary English life, customs and manners. The origin of the Year Books is unknown. Some scholars believe they originated as collections of notes taken by law students in court for study. Holdsworth maintains they were made by lawyers for personal use. Though it is not known when the first manuscript volumes were compiled, the cases in all known examples are from the 1270s to 1535. Printed editions of the Year Books were first issued by William. (Inventory #: 75950)