Lot 1084 , Gower, John - Jo. Gower de Confessione Amantis. the second Thomas Berthelet edition (following his first of 1532), and the third edition overall - Caxton's original being published in 1493. title within black ruled wood

° Gower, John - Jo. Gower de Confessione Amantis. the second Thomas Berthelet edition (following his first of 1532), and the third edition overall - Caxton's original being published in 1493. title within black ruled wood engraved decorated borders, some decorated initial letters, black letter in double column. (6), 1-8, ix and x, 11 and 12, xiii - cxci ff. (with the 2 line valediction on verso of penultimate leaf); signatures - *6, A-Z6, Aa-Hh6, Ii5. old blind ruled calf, panelled spine with author label added later, folio. Imprinted at London....by Thomas Berthelette.....1554. Provenance: From the private collection of the late Terry Jones (1942-2020), known for his roles as a writer, comedian, and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe.

Note: John Gower, this his major contribution to English literature; his only poem in English; one of the great literary landmarks of the Middle Ages; The work was dedicated to Chaucer. Pforzheimer 422.
£3,000-4,000

Condition:
Title damaged at foot, careful archive paper repairs, some damage (and sl. loss) to bottom and side borders (14cms across on lower border and approx. 4cms up on sides), some fraying above on fore-edge, all well clear of printing; remaining prelim. folios (2)-(5) with damage at bottom edge and corners (archive paper repairs extend onto last 3 text lines-but no loss). Marginal tears/loss 8, Clean text tears 3; final fol. 191 some marginal fraying/ loss - arch. paper repairs (just clear of text); Staining- lower fore-edge corner many leaves, prominence varies, at worst covers some of 20 lines up over most of column at base to just 3/4 words; much lesser and some leaves hardly affected, and all text legible. Worm -sm. pinhole lower margin throughout, sm. track lower margin ff. 1-6. Old marginal 3 line note J6(v), and one or two others. Binding worn and shabby, e/ps. replaced by inappropriate later ones, old bklabel (Earl Bathurst) preserved. Although some discrepancies in the folicing, the final number is correct; lacks final leaf (blank?) Ii6 (thus Valediction on final leaf, Ii5).

Sold for £3,000