The Canterbury Tales: The New Ellesmere Chaucer Monochromatic Facsimile of Huntington Library MS Ellesmere 26 C 9

San Marino, California / Tokyo, Japan: The Huntington Library / The Yushodo Company, Ltd, 1997. Special Limited Edition. Hardcover. As New. Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. Massively heavy, oversized volume, bound handsomely and in condition nearly as issued. Folio-sized hardcover format, in publisher's blue buckram cloth over boards, gilt lettering to front cover and spine. Sumptuous reproduction in full color at frontis of a page from the original Ellesmere Canterbury Tales (the first page of "The Knight's Tale"), allegedly the most complete, authentic version of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales as there is and one of the most famous literary treasures kept in the Huntington Library's collections in San Marino, California, obtained by Mr. Huntington in 1917. The manuscript was allegedly produced in 1400 shortly after Chaucer's death. This Special Limited Edition of 1000 copies only features floriated borders, illuminated and historiated initials and other decorations including initials, heads and tails. Twenty-three illustrations embellish the pilgrim-storytellers' tales. This full-color facsimile edition was produced jointly by the Huntington Library and the Yushodo Company, Ltd. For scholars and collectors especially. The full-color transparencies were then transformed into a monochromatic version suitable for textual examination. Equally valuable is that it was printed by the Stinehour Press of Lunenberg, Vermont. The interior is as bright as can be imagined, unmarked and flawless. Unpaginated, but xvi, 1-363 pp., containing the entirety of the manuscript, from blank front to blank rear wrapper. All in, a magnificent production of one of Western Europe's most valuable, inventive texts.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.