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Thys Boke Is Myne

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Henry VIII's childhood copy of Cicero's De Officiis, inscribed with his own handwriting claiming ownership.

This is Henry's own childhood copy of Cicero, inscribed in his hand, showing his early humanist education.

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Scan of a printed page from Cicero's De Officiis with black-letter text, decorated initial letters, marginal notes, and handwritten ownership inscription 'Thys Boke Is Myne' with a signature at the bottom.
Marcus Tullius Cicero, De Officiis (Henry VIII's childhood copy), inscribed 'Thys boke is myne'.

About this source

What it is

This is a printed copy of Marcus Tullius Cicero's De Officiis that belonged to Henry VIII as a child. It bears the handwritten inscription "Thys Boke Is Myne" along with his signature, written in the margins of the black-letter text.

Why it matters

This book is direct evidence of young Henry's humanist education, which exposed him to classical Roman philosophy and rhetoric through Cicero's writing. The ownership inscription, written in his own childhood hand, is a rare personal trace of the future king as a boy learning to read and claim his possessions, long before he became known for his reign.

Look closer

  • What does the handwriting style tell you about Henry as a young learner?
  • Why might a prince be given a book like Cicero's De Officiis to study?
  • What does this object leave out about the rest of Henry's education and upbringing?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Henry VIII on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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