- Who
- The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye
- What
- first first
- Where
- Not Applicable ()
- When
- 1474
The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye is the earliest book printed in the English language. A translation by British print pioneer William Caxton of a French original, the book was published around 1474. The 542-year-old book, formerly the property of the Duke of Northumberland, was sold at auction by Sotheby’s for £1,082,500 on 15 July 2014.
Caxton’s version of the story recasts the heroes of Greek mythology as chivalrous figures, and was published at a time when most books were printed in Latin. It was produced as a gift from the Duke of Burgundy to his new wife Margaret – sister of the English King Edward IV.
