A Collection of Early Prose Romances
London: William Pickering, Chancery Lane, 1828. First edition thus. Hardcover. 3 vol. 8vo. [5] viii-xv, [3], iv-vi, [3], 4-56, [3], ii-vi, [3], 4-110, [3], iv-viii, [3], 4-62, [5], iv, [3], 4-44, [2]; [7], iv-xii, [3], 4-44, [3], ii-xix, [4], 4-53, [4], iv-xx, [1], 2-57, [8], 6-77, [4], ii-viii, [5], 84-133, [3]; [7], ii-x, [3], 2-135, [4], iv-viii, [3], 4-138, [3], iv-vii, [4], 4-106, [2] pp. Half turn of the century smooth calf over marbled boards, calf and boards ruled in gilt, spines in six compartments with gold lettering; top edges gilt, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, with a green silk ribbon bookmark in each volume. TItle pages printed in red and black ink with the Pickering device on each title page. Each story contains its own title page (without the Pickering device). Kelly 1828.22. Keynes 92. Volume one contains the stories Robert the Deuyll, Thomas A Reading, Frier Bacon, and Frier Rush; volume two contains Virgilius, Robin Hood, George A. Green, and Tom A Lincolne; volume three includes the stories Helyas, Doctor Faustus (by playwright Christopher Marlowe), and Second Report of Doctor Faustus. A nice collection of early English literature, with classic tales of knights and outlaws, printed by one of the most significant English presses. Very Good. Item #00009141
A Very Good set with some wear to the extremities, particularly to the joints with the front joint of volume one beginning to split (bindings still secure). Name of a former professor of English literature on the first blank leaf of each volume.
Price: $500.00