ACTA ROMANORUM PONTIFICUM, à dispersione Discipulorum Christi, usq[ue] ad tempora Pauli Quarti, qui nunc in Ecclesia tyrannizat / ex Ioannis Balei Sudouolgij Angli maiore Catalogo Anglicorum scriptorum desumpta, & in tres classes, libros uerò semptem, ... by Bale, John [1495-1563] - 1558

Basileae: Ex officina Ioannis Oporini, anno Salutis humanae M.D.LVII. Mense Iulio, 1558. 15 cm. x 10 cm., pp. [48], 555, [133] - several errors in pagination. Signatures: *-3, a-z8, A-V8, includes Index, woodcut portrait of the author on verso of title-page, errata p. [46]-[47] (first count), colophon (recto of final leaf V8). Contemporary, gilt and blind-stamped full calf, 4 raised bands. Covers quite worn and scuffed, front and rear upper corner and rear bottom edge worn with boards exposed, tear to leather at head of spine exposing signatures and bit of first raised band, top headband partially loose but present, tailband missing, 1.5 cm x 2 cm piece missing from tail of spine, 2 tiny punctures at fore-edge of upper and lower boards which may once have held ties or a clasp anchor, gilt quite worn. Most interesting is the upper and lower pastedowns which are loose, exposing the scrap vellum used in the binding (the building up of the boards to equalize the leather turn-ins). The vellum was not washed prior to use and contains what could be a double-sided antiphon, the staff being drawn in red and blue inks with much handwriting, the writing, etc. fading and offset to adjoining boards and paper. Contemporary? ink name of "John Napton his Book" to what would be the front pastedown endpaper and a later inked name with note to title-page, pencil marginalia, otherwise quite a good copy. "After Bale's death John Studley translated the Acta Romanorum Pontificum [Latin, 1558] as The Pageant of Popes in 1574." . Original Leather. Very Good. 16 mo..