Curio

State Library of New South Wales
The workes of Geffray Chaucer: newly printed

The workes of Geffray Chaucer: newly printed

1532
Bound volume
London: T Godfray, 1532
Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
SAFE/ Q53/ 3

Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the most important English poets of the Middle Ages. His use of the English Language and his ability to tell stories with humour and realism has been appreciated and his work reproduced for over 600 years.

This 1532 edition contains all of Chaucer's writings except for the Ploughman's Tale, which was first printed in the edition of 1542. While the authorship of some of the material has been questioned, there is no doubt that this was the first comprehensive review of Chaucer’s work.

The volume begins with The Canterbury Tales, illustrated with a number of woodcuts and initials. The woodcuts are reproduced from William Caxton’s second edition of The Canterbury Tales, printed in 1484.

As well as donating this volume to the Library, Sir William Dixson funded three beautiful stained-glass windows on the eastern wall of the Mitchell Library Reading Room which honour Geoffrey Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales.

The Canterbury Tales was first printed by William Caxton around 1478.

In September 1359 King Edward III and his sons invaded France with a large expeditionary force. Chaucer served as part of the force and was captured by the French at the siege of Reims. In March 1360, he was ransomed for £16; the ransom was paid and he was released.

In 1357 Chaucer was a page to Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster and wife of Edward III's third son, Lionel.

The Workes of Geffray Chaucer was printed by Thomas Godfray, who had a shop at Temple-bar in London where most of the London printers were based. He used the heavy, black print typical of early publishing in England.

This volume was purchased by Sir William in 1900 for £60.

Geoffrey Chaucer is best known for the Canterbury Tales, which tell the stories of a group of people on a pilgrimage to Canterbury.