Book of Common Prayer printed by Whitchurche March 1552 commonly called second prayer book of Edward VI (1552, 1844 reprint)

The title page of Pickering’s exquisite folio reprint appears within an historiated border and with the printer’s mark of William Pickering along with the calendar are printed in red and black. Handsome decorated initials, anchor device, etc. add interest to the black letter type throughout the text. The order for consecrating bishops, priests and deacons has a special title page. The Maser copy is marked by an Armorial bookplate with motto “Preserverando,” featuring a lamb atop a shield with a decorative frame, three rosettes, seven arrow forms and a smaller lamb. The Maser copy is bound by the fine English bookbinder of Huguenot descent, ROBERT RIVIERE, in olive green Levant Morocco [handsome, hard wearing leather made of goat skin and suitable for dyeing in strong colors.]  Loose-grained, highly polished Levant Morocco was considered the most elegant of the leather family. The binding is highly decorated with ornamental gilt crosses and stars, gilt line borders and large central ornamental fleurons (a flower-shaped printer’s ornament), and red under gilt edges. The excellent workmanship and good taste displayed in Riviere’s bindings gradually won for them the appreciation of connoisseurs, and he was largely employed by Queen Victoria and the royal family and other members of the British aristocracy In the Great Exhibition of 1851 he exhibited several examples of his skill for which he obtained a gold medal. With Pickering’s facsimile in a Riviere binding is duly prized by the bibliophile.