Life of Geoffrey Chaucer (Presentation Copy)
London: William Pickering, 1843. First Edition, Thus. Half-Leather. Near Fine. Item #011233
16mo., (5)144pp.. Lacking half-title. Beautiful First Separate Edition. Finely bound in half 19th century polished calf over marbled paper-covered boards. All edges speckled red. Engraved frontis portrait of Chaucer by W.H. Worthington. Raised spine bands with compartments ruled in gilt. Title in gilt upon brown leather label in second compartment. Gilt monogram and coronet stamp in the first compartment of Baron Henry Peter Brougham of which this volume is dedicated to with the inscription, "To Lord Brougham and Vaux, from the Author". Lord Brougham, raised to peerage as the first Baron Brougham and Vaux, (1778-1868), was a Scottish born British statesmen who became Lord High Chancellor. A prolific author himself, who wrote numerous treatises on science, philosophy, and history, was famously the designer of the brougham, a four-wheeled, horse-drawn style carriage that bears his name. (Wikipedia) Nicolas, (1799-1848), a barrister who studied and wrote about genealogy and history, went on to edit six volumes of Chaucer in the Pickering Aldine Poets series in 1845 and 1852. (PRBM) Square, tight and clean throughout with no toning or foxing. A few tiny nicks to the outer of edge of page 53, not affecting text. Mild rubbing to edges and tips. Small bookplate of noted American collector Albert A. Howard on the rear paste-down. A label "Q" affixed to the top corner of the front paste-down that may be a shelf-marking. A very pretty collectable copy of a scarce title in general and a quite unique presentation and association.
Price: $400.00