Geoffrey Chaucer; Thomas Speght. The Works of our Ancient, Learned, and Excellent English Poet, Jeffrey Chaucer, as they have recently been compared with the best manuscripts, and several things added, never before in print. To which is joined, the story of the Siege of Thebes, 1687. London.
This is a late 17th-century edition of The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, as they have recently been compared with the best manuscripts, and several things added, never before in print. To which is added, The story of the Siege of Thebes, by John Lidgate, Monk of Bury: together with the life of Chaucer, showing his country, parentage, education, marriage, children, revenues, service, reward, friends, books, and death. Also, a table, wherein the old and obscure words in Chaucer are explained, and such words (many) that either are, by nature or derivation, Arabic, Greek, Latin, Italian, French, Dutch, or Saxon, marked with particular notes for the better understanding of their original. This is the final Speght edition, following the text of the 1602 edition. The text is printed in blackletter Gothic font as well.
One finely bound volume in folio, (24)+660+(24) pages. This volume is in good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the binding, light cracking to the front hinge, and some leather peeling to the foot of the spine. The upper inner text block is slightly detached up to page 50. There is some foxing throughout and staining and worming to the outer margins (mostly the upper right corner), which does not affect the text. The upper right corner of the final leaf is partially missing, but it does not obscure the text.
