J O N K E R S R A R E B O O K S
Literature Before 1900
printed in the Netherlands in 1569. His work was the most significant contribution to the debate on ghosts and spirits in the Elizabethan era. Its significance has been lauded by a number of Shakespeare scholars over the course of the previous century. In 1906, F.W. Moorman described it as “the most elaborate treatment of [the] theological ghost question” in ar- guing for the direct bearing it had on Shakespeare when writing Hamlet. More recently Jonathan Bate has cited it as influencing Hamlet’s dilemma in comprehending the ghost of his father. Rare. No other complete copy has been sold for over 70 years, and only one other undefective copy has been offered since 1921, when this very copy was sold at Herman Le Roy Edgar’s sale at the Anderson Galleries. The USTC locates fifteen copies in institutions, with three copies held by the Folger. FIRST EDITION OF SPENSER’S CLASSIC WORK SPENSER, Edmund THE FAERIE QUEEN Disposed into twelve books, fashioning XII. Morall Vertues. [with:] The Second Part of the Faerie Queene, containing the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Bookes John Wolf] for William Ponsonbie; [Richard Field] for William Ponson- by, 1590, 1596 [45469] Two volumes, both first editions. Quarto. Early 20th-century crushed red morocco, gilt-lettered on spine, board-edges gilt- ruled and turn-ins gilt, edges gilt, by Roger de Coverley & Sons. Woodcut printer’s device on each title, full-page woodcut on M5v of Vol. I, typographical ornaments and initials. A very good set, with the title to the first part a little soiled with a minor to the lower corner, otherwise extremely fresh with just occasion- al discreet marginal repairs, with some catchwords restored; leaves Pp6-8 supplied from another copy (see notes) with minor repairs to those leaves and some numbers and letters restored in ink facsimile. The second part trimmed close at the top, affecting the headlines slightly on three leaves (Q5, Cc5-6); Hh2 and Ii6 have corner repairs. Occasional minor soiling or spots in both volumes. $120,000 The complete text of Spenser’s classic work, except for two cantos of Mu - tabilitie which did not appear until the folio edition of 1609. Written in praise of Elizabeth I and dedicated to her, Spenser’s allegorical master- piece follows the adventures of six medieval knights, drawing on Arthu - rian legend, Italian romance, classical epic, and Chaucer. John Dryden notes that “Spencer more than once insinuates, that the Soul of Chaucer was transfus’d into his Body; and that he was begot- ten by him Two hundred years after his Decease” (Dryden, f. A1). In its
EARLY MODERN GHOSTS - A SOURCE FOR HAMLET LAVATER, Ludwig OF GHOSTES AND SPIRITES WALKING BY NYGHT And of strange noyses, crackes, and sundry fore- warnynges, which commonly happen before the death of menne, great slaughters, & alterations of kyngdomes. Printed at London by Henry Benneyman for Richard Watkyns, 1572 [44163] First English edition. 4to (183 x 135mm). Bound in full green mo- rocco by Stikeman. A near fine copy, generally very fresh, with light marks to the title page and final leaf, but otherwise crisp. Corner chip to C 3 . $70,000 The first edition in English of one of the most significant and popular ear - ly modern works on demonology, credited as a source for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Lavater was a Swiss protestant reformer, whose work was originally
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