- 29
Chaucer, Geoffrey.
Estimate
1,500 - 2,500 GBP
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Description
- The Workes of our Antient and Learned English Poet, Geoffrey Chaucer. [Edited by Thomas Speght], Adam Islip at the charges of Thomas Wight, 1598
folio (303 x 195mm.), black letter, double columns, title within architectural woodcut border [McKerrow and Ferguson 132], copperplate frontispiece of "The Progenie of Geffrey Chaucer" after Hoccleve, the tales preceded by full-page woodcut of Chaucer's arms and woodcut of "The Knight", woodcuts and initials throughout, with the errata leaf, initial and final blanks (but half of inital blank excised), deleted ink ownership inscriptions on title page, near contemporary calf, upper and lower covers with blind-stamped device, rebacked preserving most of the original spine, covers repaired, hinges strengthened, a few tears to some leaves (including title), some browning and spotting, ink stains to fore-edge, headlines sometimes slightly shaved
Provenance
"George Mason", Oxford, later inscriptions on endpapers
Literature
STC 5079; Grolier Langland to Wither 43 (Norton imprint); Pforzheimer 177 (George Bishop imprint)
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
This edition was edited by Thomas Speght assisted by John Stowe, Francis Thynne, Francis Beaumont (the elder) and Robert Glover. Notable for the introduction of the gloassary, it was the most recent Chaucer edition available during the period when Shakespeare was adapting Chaucer's Troilus to create Troilus and Cressida (1601-2). There are various settings of the title, some with a different woodcut border, and with slightly different imprints.