The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Compared with the Former Editions and Many Valuable Manuscripts, Out of Which Three Tales Are Added Which Were Never Before Printed

 Geoffrey Chaucer; John Urry; T Thomas; Dart

London : Printed for Bernard Lintot, 1721

1st Urry Edition.  Folio, 390 x 24 cm.  Bound in contemporary sheep.  Rebacked, with later spine.  Binding, front joint starting.  Cover wear, rubbing.  Corners bumped.  Foxing/toning to margins throughout. Dampstaining to top corners of pages, does not affect text. Text in two columns. Collated: [52], 626, 81, [1] pages.  2 engraved plates (portraits of Chaucer and Urry). "Urry's edition . . . is the first since that of William Thynne in 1534 to seek systematically to assemble a substantial number of manuscripts to establish his text. It is also the first edition to offer descriptions of the manuscripts of Chaucer's works, and the first to print texts of 'Gamelyn' and 'The Tale of Beryn,' works ascribed to, but not by, Chaucer" (ODNB).  Urry was the first to use Roman rather than Gothic type.  His use of all available manuscripts and use of citations give the work enduring value to Chaucer scholars.  Urry added three stories: The Coke's Tale of Gamelyn; The Merchant's Second Tale, or the History of Beryn; and The Adventure of the Pardoner and Tapster at the Inn at Canterbury.  Urry died before the completion of the work and Timothy Thomas completed it, as well as the glossary and preface. 

This is an oversized or heavy book, which requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US.