Leaf from The Golden Legend

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Leaf from The Golden Legend

Artist William Caxton English | British, ca.1422-1491

Printer Wynkyn de Worde British | English, ca. 1456-1535

Author Jacopo da Voragine Italian, ca. 1230 - July 13 or 16, 1298

Place of OriginWestminster, England

Date1498

Mediumletterpress on paper

ClassificationBooks

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number

1915.133

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Label TextWynkyn de Worde was Caxton's chief printer and successor. De Worde's first illustrated books were those in which he could use Caxton's blocks (which became his after Caxton died in 1491), and he continued to use them until they broke down. In his career, he issued almost 450 illustrated titles, and although many were reprints, the great number demonstrates Worde's commitment to illustrations in books. These pages are from worde's edition of one of Caxton's most important and popular illustrated books, THE GOLDEN LEGEND, which recounted the lives of the saints. These woodcut illustrations were used by Caxton in the first edition of the Golden Legend. The present impressions are on leaves from the edition printed in 1498 by Wynkyn de Worde, his apprentice and successor.