[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) 31x20.5 cm. (12¼x7½"), modern calf antique. Second Edition edited by Thomas Speght.
A very nice early black-letter edition of Chaucer's works, including newly collected material and a very interesting "Hard words of Chaucer explained". 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."
Condition:
Apparently lacking about 3 leaves of preliminaries 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); some pale dampstaining (heavier at ends); still, nicely rebound and an important edition with good early American provenance.