AUTHOR: GEOFFREY CHAUCER

LANGUAGE: MIDDLE ENGLISH

DATE: 1400-1410

PAGE #: 240

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

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HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THE ELLESMERE CHAUCER IS A BEAUTIFUL AND ELABORATELY DECORATED MANUSCRIPT OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER’S CANTERBURY TALES. CREATED BETWEEN 1400 AND 1410, IT CONTAINS WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE A PORTRAIT OF CHAUCER AS WELL AS MINIATURE PAINTINGS OF TWENTY-TWO OF THE FICTIONAL PILGRIMS WHO TELL STORIES IN ORDER TO ENLIVEN THE JOURNEY FROM LONDON TO CANTERBURY. THE MANUSCRIPT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PARTLY BECAUSE IT WAS UNDISTURBED FOR ABOUT THREE CENTURIES IN THE LIBRARY OF SIR THOMAS EGERTON (LATER BARON ELLESMERE) AND HIS FAMILY. THE BINDING DATES FROM 1995, WHEN THE MANUSCRIPT WAS CONSERVED AND REBOUND TO MEET MODERN STANDARDS OF PRESERVATION.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.