Canterbury Tales.

Zovickian IMG-1.jpg

Creator

Geoffrey Chaucer

Title

Canterbury Tales.

Coverage

London

Publisher

T. Payne and Son: London

Date

1775, 1778

Subject

First printing of this edition, complete in 5 volumes. Errata page for v. 1- 4 in vol. 1 (pp. [xxxvii]-[xxxviii]), errata for vol. 5 on p. [xxviii] in vol. 5. Pp: vol.1: [4], xxxvi, [ii], 310; vol. 2: [iv], 318; vol. 3: [iv], 320; vol. 4: vii, [i], 336; v. 5: [iv], xxvii, [i], 290, [ii].

Description

Two copies of this edition are displayed.  The first in the original publisher's paper covered boards. Leaf size 204 x 127 mm. Signed "Dr. Wheeler 12. 6. 1784" in Vols. I and IV.

The second is also a first printing of the same edition, 5 volumes, 198 x 125 mm, but lavishly bound in 19th century red morocco by Chambolle-Duru.

According to the DNB, Dr. Tyrwhitt (1730-86) "significantly advanced the understanding and appreciation of Chaucer" in this era. His edition was considered in its day to be "'the best-edited English Classic that ever has appeared.'" (DNB, quoting the "Gentleman's Magazine"). Many fine press editions through the mid 20th century used the Tyrwhitt edition as their Middle English text.

Relation

From the collection of Stephen Zovickian