Chaucer (Geoffrey)

The Works our Ancient, Learned & Excellent English Poet, edited by Thomas Speight, third Speight edition, additional engraving and mezzotint depicting the author pasted on front flyleaves, printed in black letter, woodcut frontispiece incorporating portraits of Chaucer after John Speed, large woodcut on verso of d1 and text illustrations, double column, editor’s dedication to Sir Robert Cecil signed ‘Tho. Speght’, advertisement leaf, the last 12 leaves contain a glossary and bibliography, occasional spotting, light browning throughout, bookplate of Viscount Birkenhead, later blind paneled cream vellum, gilt, corners and spine decorated with fleurons, marbled endpapers, soiled, new working brass clasps, [ESTC R3920; Pforzheimer, 179; Wing C3736], folio, Printed in the Year 1687.

***”This is the last black-letter edition and is, except for the then recently discovered conclusions of the Cook’s and Squire’s Tales, verso [4S2], a reprint of the 1602 edition... without any additions" (Pforzheimer Catalogue)

Provenance. The Library of Frederick Edwin Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead (1872-1930), English politician who served as a British Lord Chancellor.