1602 Geffrey (Geoffrey) Chaucer, The Workes. Canterbury Tales, Romaunt (Romance) of the Rose, etc.

1602 printing of The Workes of Geoffrey Chaucer (edited by Thomas Speght); this copy missing the frontis leaf portrait of Chaucer (but supplied in facsimile, printed on acid-free laid art paper). In this edition, Chaucer's an A.B.C. (prayer in the form of an abecedarian) is first printed, and some other changes and additions are added from earlier editions. Chaucer's classic works, The Canterbury Tales, Romaunt of the Rose, etc. are printed herein. This is considered the last printing of the early English printings of Chaucer. Another printing didn't occur until the late 17th century.

Full Title -

The Workes of our ancient and learned English poet, Geffrey Chaucer newly printed, to that which was done in the former impression thus much is now added, 1. In the life of Chaucer many things inserted, 2. The whole worke by old copies reformed, 3. Sentences and prouerbes noted, 4. The signification of the old and obscure words prooued, also caracters shewing from what tongue or dialect they be deriued, 5. The Latine and French, not Englished by Chaucer, translated, 6. The treatise called Iacke Vpland, against Friers, and Chaucers A.B.C. called La Priere de nostre Dame, at this impression added.

About the Work -

This edition borrowed some of the layout, setting and Knight's illustration from the 1561 edition, printed by Kyngston (for Wright) and translated by John Stow (which was based off the William Thynne editions of 1532 and 1542). Stow worked with Speght, editing for a 1598 edition, and this 1602 edition adds new material and addresses some criticism of the 1598 edition.

Still, it includes some spurious works: The Isle of the Ladies, The Flower and the Leaf and Jack Upland.

Provenance Marks -

This copy with an interesting name written on the title page; the title page appears to say "Tho.s Lodge". The abbreviation of names isn't uncommon to the 16th and 17th century, when spelling was more fluid; for a similar period example, see Shakespeare's signature on the Blackfriars mortgage.

There was an Elizabethan Era author and playwright named Thomas Lodge, who quoted Shakespeare and was active through 1602 (the date of this book). I've found two examples of his signature; one signature was in a letter to Thomas Edmondes and the other was a donor signature in a book given to the Bodleian (MS 617). I've attached them as a picture. Neither is a clear match for the Tho.s Lodge on the title page of this book, so I'll say it's unlikely that it's the same man's signature. That being said, signatures can change based on application, time of life, etc., so I can't say with certainty it's not his signature either.

There is another mark. At the rear of the title page we find "W.S. Ogden, 1887". In "Samples from a Note Book of An Uncommercial Traveller" (published 1898), by John Mortimer, he writes (p.119) that he was lent a book by W.S. Ogden of Manchester... and that Odgen had purchased many of his books/manuscripts from auction of the bibliophile John Jarmyn. This book only has Ogden's signature, so we can't be certain that it came from Jarmyn, but accounts of Jarmyn's book hoarding are interesting to read and I will point them out.

There is also a letter from the Edinburgh book seller, editor, and publisher (Nimmo's Poets) William Phillip Nimmo tucked within, dated 1876... Or, it quotes Nimmo. I can't really ascertain which it is.

Bibliographic Details -

Universal Short Title Catalogue reference number 3000860. They note 18 copies in the world's libraries.

English Short Title Catalogue reference number S107214.

Perhaps the best record of the book is the Worldcat OCLC record number 57579634, which provides a detailed breakdown of the book, much of which I used for exploring and describing the work.

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 31.5 x 21.5 x 5 cm, quarto signed (mostly) in 6.

Leather binding, with the remnants of a gilt single fillet border to the boards. Spine with five raised bands; "Chaucer's Works" in gilt in one compartment, and "1602" in gilt in another compartment.

Reminder, this copy lacks the frontis of Chaucer. There is an illustration of the Knight at the first page of The Canterbury Tales.

Pages of this copy - facsimile frontis, xxiii (a1 in facsimile, a2-6, b-c6, A6), 1-350, 353-376, leaves signed Ttt1-Uuu6, leaf titled Authors Cited and errata leaf (bibliographies call these last two leaves Uuu7 and 8 but I'm not sure they should be labelled such).

Collation of this copy - a1 in facsimile, a2-a6, b-c6, A-Z6, Aa-Zz6, Aaa-Nnn6, Ooo4, Ppp-Rrr6, Sss5, Ttt1-Uuu6, leaves titled Authors Cited and errata leaf (bibliographies call these last two Uuu7 and 8 but I'm not sure they should be labelled such).

Leaves numbered 351/352, signed Ooo5-6, were not included in any copies. This is noted in the bibliographic references (see the Worldcat entry).

Condition -

See pictures. Worn leather binding with old respine. Edges and corners worn. Rubbing to boards and spine. Joints with wear. Chipping to head and tail of spine. Some cracking along spine.

Missing frontis of Chaucer and his family tree (supplied in facsimile on acid-free laid art paper).

Pages toned throughout with occasional fox spots, thumbing, dog-eared pages, page edge chips/tears, ink spots, etc. Occasional moisture mark from edges and gutter throughout. First gathering mounted at gutter. Title page with name written on it, fox spot, thumbing, etc.. 2” tear from gutter of b2. 3/4” hole in A3. Marginal scribbles on M4 and ink stain in same spot on M3 verso. Crude hand-drawn manicule on O4. ½” hole in Z1. More scribbles in fore-edge margin of Aaa2. At the bottom-edge of Eee4v is “and” written several times. Several (glue?) marks along fore-edge margin of Hhh1.