[a]4, b-c6, A-3N6, 3O4, 3P-3T6, 3U5, errata leaf. [22], 179, 178-350, 353-376, [12] leaves. Title with woodcut architectural border. Section title with armorial device. Decorated with many woodcut initials plus tailpieces and a headpiece to the Knights Tale showing the knight. Text in black letter, printed in two columns, with headline. Lacking portrait frontispiece, a glossary leaf, and apparently another postliminary. (folio) 12¼x7½, modern calf antique. Second Edition edited byThomas Speght.
From the library of R.T.W. Duke Jr., of the family who founded Duke University, with an inscription by his son, J.F.S., and his own inscription on front free endpaper and title "R.T.W. Duke, Jr. / Charlottesville / Va." A very nice early black-letter edition of Chaucer's works, including newly collected material and a very interesting "Hard words of Chaucer explained".
Condition:
Apparently lacking about 3 leaves from outside the main part of text and the portrait; title relaid with slight loss and several leaves near beginning and end repaired or with trimmed margins (a few of these also with slight loss); pale dampstain (heavier at ends), early marginalia shaved in a few places; inserted repaired leaf from another work before F1; small holes to P3 & 3R5 affecting a couple letters; a couple of small paper flaws affecting lettering; still, nicely rebound and an important edition with good early American provenance.