Search Results: the most delectable history of reynard by reynard the fox

[160]; [112]; [4], 160 pp.One of the rare sets of all 3 parts of the English Reynard the Fox, the third part here in its first edition. The Reynard stories were already established as a coherent collection in the 12th century and were first printed in 1479, in a Dutch prose edition. They became especially well known when translated into English (and adapted) for Caxton's 1481 edition (in 43 chapters). The publisher Edward Alde in London began work on an extensive revision of Caxton's text, with many new additions, but he published only the first part, probably in 1620 (the first edition of the present part 1), containing 25 chapters, some corresponding with chapters in Caxton's edition and some not. Although the second part would have to wait 52 years, the first part quickly became the standard English version of the Reynard the Fox stories, with 8 editions from 1620 to 1671. Its language was modernized, giving both a view of the stories as they were known through most of two centuries and insights… Read More

1701-1681-1684. 3 parts in 1 volume. 4to.. pp. (160); (112); (viii), 160. 62 woodcuts in Part I, from 39 blocks [the cut at C4 is slightly misprinted, omitting the lower left corner] ; 15 woodcuts in Part II of which 5 are repeats, and all are repeats from Part I. Most of the woodcuts are signed E[dward]. B[rewster]. Nineteenth century polished calf, sometime rebacked keeping the original spine, tiny rust-hole in the lower margin D1 Part I, a small hole in the text of F2 Part I affecting a couple of letters each of two words recto and two verso, top edge margin of I1 Part I slightly shaved, and also fore-edge margins of the two following leaves, signature D Part II slightly browned and foxed, final leaf of part with an old repair in the lower margin not affecting text, some paper flaws to the odd margin in Part III not affecting text, occasional trivial marginal damp marks and dust soiling but overall a very good copy, with the etched book-plate for R. M. CHIRNSIDE, signed in the plate by JOHN… Read More