MANUSCRIPT TESTIMONIAL ON VELLUM - "An Address to the Venerable Stephen Creyke M.A. from the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of York." [York: c.1866]. Folio. A manuscript illuminated testimonial on 8 vellum leaves, original red morocco gilt (rubbed).

MANUSCRIPT TESTIMONIAL ON VELLUM - [Stamped in gilt on the upper cover:] "An Address to the Venerable Stephen Creyke M.A. from the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of York. Resident within the City of York". [York: c.1866]. Folio (260 x 185mm). A manuscript illuminated testimonial on 8 vellum leaves with borders and initials hand-painted in colours and heightened in gold. Original red morocco elaborately lettered and decorated in gilt, red edges (extremities rubbed, some soiling to the edges of the textured silk endpapers). The manuscript opens: "We the undersigned Clergy of the City of York desire to express our thanks to you for the services which you have rendered to the Church during the twenty one years of your Archidiaconate ..." and then goes on to list 33 clergy of the City of York and their respective churches. Stephen Creyke (1796-1883) was Archdeacon of York from 1845 to 1866. Loosely-inserted is a one-page autograph note from Stephen Creyke, dated April 10 1879, giving precise instructions as to the form he would like his funeral to take, and a photographed portrait of Creyke by the professional photographer Netterville Briggs, numbered "353" in pencil on the verso, and inscribed, also on the verso, "Stephen Creyke (Archdeacon of York), my great grandfather!"