THE WORKS OF OUR ANCIENT, LEARNED, AND EXCELLENT ENGLISH POET, JEFFREY CHAUCER .to Which Is Adjoyn'd the Story of the Siege of Thebes, by John Lidgate.Together With the Life Of Chaucer

Chaucer Geoffrey

Published by London np 1687

About this Item

The third Speght edition, and the last 'black letter' edition of Chaucer's works. With the famous engraved Gower portrait and genealogical frontispiece, engraved coat of arms at the beginning of the works and with woodcut initials throughout. Folio, full antique calf, the spine sometime restored to correct period style with raised bands ruled in double gilt and with a red morocco label gilt ruled and lettered. (36), 660, (24) pp. A very handsome copy, internally quite clean and still crisp, a bit of expected mellowing or age evidence, the binding handsome with some expert restoration as noted. A nice, tall copy of this important work. A SCARCE, HANDSOME AND IMPORTANT EDITION. This was the last 'black letter' edition of Chaucer to be published. Thomas Speght included in this edition "The Court of Love," added to the Chaucer canon by Stow in 1561, as well as four new pieces: "The Flower and the Leaf;" "Chaucer's Dream;" "Jacke Upland" (spuriously attributed to Chaucer); and "Chaucer's A B C." The text of the Tales follows that of the 1602 edition, but with the addition of the then recently rediscovered endings of the Cook's and the Squire's tales. There is also a twenty-four page Glossary, "The Old and Obscure Words Explained", at the end of the volume. This copy with fine provenance, with the engraved bookplate of Oliver Huckel, published author and authority on Richard Wagner. Huckel was the translator into English of such works as 'Tannhauser' and 'Parsifal'. With the plate of the Brooklyn Public Library (now deaccessioned) noting it was purchased with the gift of Alexander M. White. There are none of the typical library markings other than this label noting the donor and previous owner.

Seller Inventory # 25716

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE WORKS OF OUR ANCIENT, LEARNED, AND EXCELLENT ENGLISH POET, JEFFREY CHAUCER .to Which Is Adjoyn'd the Story of the Siege of Thebes, by John Lidgate.Together With the Life Of Chaucer
• Publisher: London np 1687
• Binding: Hardcover