"INCOMPARABLY THE GREATEST MASTER IN OUR LANGUAGE"

SPENSER, Edmund. The Works of Edmund Spenser. Edited by J. Payne Collier. London: Bell and Daldy (Chiswick Press), 1862. Five volumes. Tall octavo, contemporary full dark green crushed morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. $1500.

Splendid Chiswick Press edition of Spenser’s works, with biography by J. Payne Collier, very handsomely bound in full morocco-gilt. A lovely set.

Of Spenser, Robert Southey wrote, "He is the great master of English versification— incomparably the greatest master in our language." This edition features a biography of Spenser by the current editor J. Payne Collier. "For the original language of the poet," Collier acknowledges, "I was, of course, mainly indebted to the two issues of The Fairy Queen; the first three books in 1590, and the whole six books in 1596." He corrects many of the errors of textual transcription contained in the earlier Todd editions. The Chiswick Press is credited with the revival of fine printing in England, when in 1844 it brought Caslon type back into use. Bookplate of Lamberton Castle.

A most handsome about-fine copy in contemporary morocco-gilt.