- 176
Chaucer, Geoffrey
Estimate
200,000 - 300,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- Chaucer, Geoffrey
- [Here begynneth the boke of C[a]nterbury tales, dilygently [and] truely corrected, an[d] newly printed. Imprinted at London: In fletestrete, by me Rycharde Pynson, printed vnto the kynges noble grace: and fyuished [sic] the yere of our Lorde God M.CCCCC. and xxvi. the Fourth Day of June]
- printed book
Folio (10 5/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 270 x 195 mm). 118 (or 128) leaves (lacking A1–2, A5, B1, I3–4, S1, 3–4, Y4). Black letter, text in double columns. 22 woodcut illustrations, including a few repeats; title-page supplied from the 1542 edition. Nineteenth-century maroon morocco gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt edges; spine a bit faded.
Provenance
J. D. C. Wickham (Sotheby's London, 15 November 1903, lot 899; "Property of a Clergyman") — Dr. Paulin Martin (acquisition note, 17 November 1903; Sotheby's London, 7 April 1930, lot 152, but withdrawn and by descent to) — Dora Martin (Sotheby's London, 7 December 1959, lot 108, to) — H. P. Kraus (catalogue 103, no. 36) — Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon, fifth Baron Kenyon (morocco label). acquisition: Bernard Quaritch, 1993
Literature
STC 5086; ESTC S108835; Duff 89
Condition
Folio (10 5/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 270 x 195 mm). 118 (or 128) leaves (lacking A12, A5, B1, I34, S1, 34, Y4). Black letter, text in double columns. 22 woodcut illustrations, including a few repeats. Nineteenth-century maroon morocco gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt edges; spine a bit faded.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
One of the rarest early editions of Canterbury Tales, the fifth overall and fourth to be illustrated; one of about a dozen recorded copies, most of which are in institutions. Pynson used a total of nineteen woodcuts for the illustrations in this edition: nine of these were cut for his edition of ca. 1492; six are copies of the woodcuts from that edition; two appear here for the first time; and one is from the Bevis of Southampton series. The Pirie copy includes all of the woodcuts except for the Knight (B1), the Nun's Priest (S1) and Pynson's arms (Y4). The woodcuts that are present are Hodnett nos. 1642–43, 1645, 1647–48, 1650, 1652, 1654, 1656, 1658, 1660, 1662–64, and 1667–68.
The 1526 Canterbury Tales was the last separate edition printed before 1640; beginning in 1532 the work was printed as part of the successive editions of Chaucer's Works. Pynson also issued two undated volumes of other works by Chaucer, Troilus and Cressida (STC 5096) and The House of Fame (STC 5088). These are sometimes found bound with the 1526 Canterbury Tales and the trio is sometimes referred to as the first collected edition of Chaucer, but bibliographically they are three distinct publications.