Amorum Troili et Creseidae Libri duo priores Anglico Latini

Oxford: J. Lichfield, 1635. Full Description:

[CHAUCER, Geoffrey]. Amorum Troili et Creseidae. Libri duo priores Anglico Latini Oxford: J. Lichfield, 1635.

First edition. This is the first separate English edition and the "earliest translation of any part of Chaucer into another language." (Early Oxford Press). Two books in one small quarto volume (7 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches; 180 x 137 mm). [26], [1]-105, [1]; [6], [1, blank], 24, [1], 25-96, 89-159, [1, blank] pp. Text in both English and Latin with the English printed in black letter and the Latin in italic. The English text is from William Thynne's edition of "The Works." Woodcut head (truncated) and tail-pieces and initials. Title within an elaborate woodcut border. Complete but with a few errors in pagination, Pt. 2, p. 25 is misprinted 21; 26 is 25 and the error is carried to 96; 97 is 89 and the error is carried to the end.

Nineteenth-century quarter brown morocco over marbled paper boards. Corners tipped in vellum. Spine lettered in gilt. Top edge brown, others speckled red. Page 2 trimmed close at top edge, just touching page number. Small holes in leaves D3 and E, just touching a few letters. Some old ink marginalia to leaf Ee. Previous owner's armorial bookplate. Overall a very good copy.

A translation by Sir Francis Kinnaston of books 1-2 of "Troilus and Criseyde" by Geoffrey Chaucer. The preliminary leaves include a dedication to Patrick Young and poetry by various authors, dedicated to Chaucer and Kinnaston.

Provenance: Bookplate of Percy Lancelot Babington (1877-1950), Cambridge literature lecturer; published a bibliography of Victorian poet, critic, and historian John Addington Symonds.

ESTC S107787

HBS 69319.

$6,500. (Inventory #: 69319)