Collation: [1-3⁸ 4⁶]: 30 leaves, leaf [4]/6 blank.
Goff, ISTC, and GW consider this title with the Chronicles of England as a single edition in two parts dated: I) 10 June 1480 and II) 18 Aug. 1480. BMC divides into two editions, but intended to be sold together.
Paper format: Chancery folio
PML copy leaf dimensions: 26.5 x 19.5 cm
PML copy missing 5 leaves: [1]/1.8, [1]/2.7, and [4]/6 (blank).
PML copy unrecorded by De Ricci, Census.
Printed in Caxton's type 4:95B.
The Description of Britain is derived from Liber I of Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicon, printed by Caxton in 1482 (BMC).
Title and imprint from colophon (leaf [4]/5r): Here endeth het discripcion of Britayne the / whiche conteyneth englond wales and scotland / [and] also bicause Irlonde in under the reule of englond [and] of olde tyme it hath so continued therfore I have sette the descripcion of the same after the said brituyne / which I have taken oute of Policronicon / And bicause it is necessarie to alle englisshmen to knowe the propertees co[m]moditees [and] mervailles of them / therefore I have sette them in enprinte according to the translacion of Trevisa / whiche atte request of the lord Barkeley translated the book of Policronicon in to englissh / Fynysshed by me william Carton [sic] the xviii. day of August the yere of our lord god M.CCCC. lxxx. and the xx. yere of the regne of kyng Edward the fourthe.
The description of Britain
Hand decoration: Rubricated, red lombards and paragraph marks (C-type with extended upper stroke). Annotations: Marginal notations in graphite and ink, 16th century, including one on Caxton as England's first printer (leaf [4]/5r of Description); inscription (by Barbara?), mostly abraded, 16th/17th century (front pastedown).