1687 The Works... Jeffrey (Geoffrey) Chaucer. Canterbury Tales, etc. Last black-letter edition. Beautiful binding.

The last black-letter edition of Chaucer's Works, printed in 1687; this copy in a handsome, fresh, Cambridge style binding. This copy lacks the frontis-piece illustration of Chaucer, but is otherwise complete and includes interesting tipped in tabs with informative 19th century bibliophile notes.

About The Work -

This collection includes the classic Canterbury Tales, among others. It is a reprint of the 1602 edition, except the last page adds several passages that were discovered in the years between.

The 1602 edition had followed a handful of 16th century editions, and was edited to address some criticism of the earlier works.

Still, several works included are no longer considered works of Chaucer.

About this Copy -

A beautiful fresh leather binding homes this handsome and important work. It's apparent a 19th century bibliophile owned the book, since a 19th century frontis of Chaucer was added, as well as a handful of tipped in details on authorship, sales of other copies, etc., all from the 19th century. The binding (with care) is ready for more centuries of exploration of this copy.

Bibliographic Details -

Worldcat OCLC 805573381, among others. Not rare, found in many of the world's leading libraries.

"This is the last black-letter edition and is, except for the then recently discovered and conclusions of the Cook's and Squire's Tales, verso 4S2, a reprint of the 1602 edition, without any editions" - Pforzheimer Catalogue

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 32.5 x 21 x 3 cm. Signed in 4. New leather binding, in the Cambridge style. Boards with inner and outer frames rolled in blind; the rolls are a mix of fauna, and geometric shapes, with corner florets to the frames. The spine has six raised bands; six compartments with a central gilt palm frond surrounde dby gilt decoration and framed in gilt filet, one compartment with Chaucer's Works in gilt and "1687" in gilt at the base of the spine. Text block with all edges gilt.

Missing frontis leaf of Chaucer, although a later Chaucer print added.

Pages - Title leaf, (xxxii - 16 leaves signed A4, a-c4), 660, [24]

Collation - Title Leaf (not signed), A4, a-c4 (c1 signed d1), B-Z4, Aa-Zz4, Aaa-Zzz4, Aaaa-Rrrr4, Ssss6

Condition -

See pictures. Beautiful fresh binding with no condition issues to the binding. Some toning to top-edge of text block (not recut with binding). Refreshed marbled endpapers and blank unpaginated endpapers. Some related informative clippings pasted to older front blank unpaginated endpapers.

Missing the frontis of Chaucer, with a later British Museum print added (3" tear to frontis). Toned throughout with occasional fox spot, thumbing, page edge chip or tear, etc. Light graphite note of arms engraver at base of arms on c1 (signed d1). Also, light graphite notes in bottom margin regarding signatures at base of c2, "yy, i.e. 61"). Occasional tipped-in informational tab at gutter. Contemporary errata pasted over text at page 42. Text block, although toned, isn't heavily worn and there are no annotations. At last leaf, there is an ink wash at the bottom.