3 parts in 1, each wqith separate title-page. Unpaginated. ¶4 (-¶1-2), §4, A-H4, I8 (-I3-6), K-2I4; pi2, ¶4, A-2Q4, 2R¹; ¶4, ¶4, A-2P4 (-2P1-2). (4to) disbound with early rear board on threads.
Early edition of Malory's legendary retelling of the exploits of King Arthur and his knights of the round table, realistically the earliest edition obtainable, and quite rare as it is. The collation of the work, as given by ESTC, indicates signature I in the first part is comprised of 8 leaves, rather than the 4 of the other signatures. The anomoly may possibly be the result of a printer's error, with 4 leaves of text left out of the first printing, which were then printed separately as the interior leaves of signature I, creating a gathering of 8 leaves. However, this cannot be verified, and this copy does lack the four leaves, I3-6. STC 806.
Condition:
Lacking the first two leaves (incl. 1st title) and the last two, and 4 leaves within as noted above; also lacking the three frontispieces. First two leaves present are worn with a bit of loss; some darkening within, ink marks to title-page of third part, good, sold as is.