CHAUCER, Geoffrey.
The poetical works... in fourteen volumes. The miscellaneous pieces from Urry's edition 1721, the Canterbury Tales from Tyrwhitt's edition of 1775.
Edinburgh: Apollo Press, by the Martins, 1782 [-1783].
14 vols. bound in 7, 12mo (130 × 80 mm.), complete with engraved portrait and 14 engraved title pages with vignette scenes from the works and giving the general title "Bell's edition of the poets of Great Britain complete from Chaucer to Churchill". Occasional minor marginal tears from careless opening, usually with no loss, and not affecting text, one with neat old repair. Uniform contemporary half calf, flat spines attractively gilt in panels, yellow edges. Armorial bookplates. Marbled paper sides slightly rubbed.
An excellent set of the works of Chaucer printed by the Apollo Press for the Bell's Poets series (which ran to 109 volumes). The Chaucer set was issued last in the series and is often to be found separately bound as an entity in its own right. It includes introductory materials from Tyrwhitt's edition, including the Life of Chaucer, textual notes and an excellent glossary. The distinctive engraved title pages represent one of the few 18th-century sequences produced prior to the Romantics and presents a refreshingly "ungothic" view.
Alston III, 42.
£600.00
US$1191.48*
* Given as a guide only. Based on an exchange rate of £1 = US$1.985799 for the day 25 July 2008 but liable to fluctuate.
25 July 2008