The Canterbury Tales of Chaucer. To which are added an Essay Upon his Language and Versification; an Introduction Discourse; and Notes
London: Printed for T. Payne at the Mews-Gate, 1775-1778. First Tyrwhitt edition. 5 volumes, 8vos, 310, 318, 320, 336, and 290pp. Contemporary tree calf, red spine labels with gilt lettering. Spines dry, toned, and with a few cracks and chipping at caps. Joints rubbed, upper joint in vol 1 cracked but holding. Few contemporary shelving numbers on front pastedowns, contemporary inscription to verso of title in vol 1 "Calf leat. Mr. Hodgson." Overall, a very good, sound set.
Beautiful 18th century Chaucer which was hailed at the time as the best-edited English classic that had appeared. Tyrwhitt consulted dozens of manuscript versions of Chaucer to put this together in 4 volumes, and added a glossary as the 5th volume 3 years later. This set in an untouched, period tree calf binding, and scarce thus. . Item #9147
Price: $2,500.00