Books and Manuscripts

(London: Printed by Adam Islip, 1602). Second Thomas Speght edition (seventh edition overall). Folio. (viii), 351, 353-376, 11 leaves. Lacking 20 leaves: engraved portrait of Chaucer (a1); general title-page (a2); 13 preliminary leaves (a3-c3); second page of Thynne's letter to Henry VIII (c6); Fol. 18; final three leaves at rear. Edited by Thomas Speght and Francis Thynne. Printed in two columns, black letter; running headlines and foliation in Roman type. Illustrated with woodcut Chaucer coat of arms (reprinted version from the variant 1561 edition); woodcut for "The Knight's tale" (B1), and woodcut borders, head- and tail-pieces, and decorated initials. Full modern tan paneled calf, stamped in blind and in gilt; speckled red edges; coat of arms leaf worn and soiled with some loss in bottom corner, repaired on verso; edges and corners of preliminary leaves worn with scattered repairs, affecting some words; edges trimmed close, touching some catchwords, running headlines, and printed manicules in margins; bottom half of Fol. 190 torn away; open tear in center Fol. 210; bottom corner of Fol. 306 torn away, affecting some words; scattered spotting and creasing to text; repairs and wear along edges of final ten leaves; scattered marginalia; contemporary ownership signature at foot of verso of p. 375; two 18th century ownership signatures along fore-edge of Fol. 175 verso; (presumably) ink scrawl in gutter of Fol. 157 and 158, with some lacing and bleeding into adjacent pages. Hammond p. 125-127; ESTC S107210