The second edition of book 1-3; first edition of book 4-6. Stationers' register: part 2 entered 20 January [1596] Signatures: A-2O⁸; ²A-2I⁸ ²2K⁴. Woodcut tailpieces; decorated and historiated initials. Printer's device of Richard Field on title page. Full page woodcut of St. George and the dragon on p. [184]. The caption at head of each canto in a compartment with borders of type ornaments. Book 4-6 has separate title page: The second part of the Faerie queene : containing the fourth, fifth, and sixth bookes / by Ed. Spenser. Imprinted at London : for William Ponsonby, 1596.
Cited/described in
English short title catalogue, S117748 Pollard, A.W. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, & Ireland and of English books printed abroad, 1475-1640 (2nd ed.), 23082 Johnson, F.R. Critical bibliography of the works of Edmund Spenser printed before 1700, 10-11
Manuscript biographical note (in Evelyn's hand?) of a long extract from William Camden's Annals (in Latin), 1615, book 2, p. 171, on Edmund Spenser.
Provenance:
Autograph of Ann Stewart on 2nd front free endpaper; inscription of Joshua Manwood dated March 29, 1600, with purchase price of 7 shillings on A2r; John Evelyn - Robert Hoe copy
Binding Information
Mottled calf binding with gilt decoration including monograms with initials 'I E' between palm and laurel. 2 volumes bound as one, with Colin Clouts come home againe, 1595 (STC 23077 copy 3).
Imperfect: contains Book 1-3 only. A made-up copy: leaves A2-8, T1-X5, and 2O7,8, and gathering 2P are from the 1590 edition (STC 23080); paper repairs. A few manuscript notes, minor underlining and marginal marks. Tiny burn holes on H3, 2N5, 2O5.
Provenance:
Autographs and inscriptions: S. Lea 1719; to the ryght honorable Sr John Prince; Susanna Grant ["Grant" struck through]; S Kelly [struck through]; T. Tay[?]; Will. Andeley; Walter [Raleigh?--effaced] 1591; Henry Browne [2O8v]; Mr. Mory [2O8v]. Some annotations shaved at foreedge. Gift of Anne Lake Prescott, 2010-11-24.
Binding Information
In a late 19th-century green leather binding (goatskin?), marbled paper endleaves, gilt edges, signed: Rogers, Binder, Colston St. Bristol.
Publications About Described Materials
Prescott, Anne Lake. "Two copies of the 1596 Faerie queene." Spenser studies, v. 23 (2008): 261-273.
Imperfect: wanting all before C3 and all after ²2I8; C3 and C4 mutilated; H1 wanting and replaced with manuscript text. Scattered manuscript annotations, apparently by a student.
Provenance:
Autograph, second part, first page of text: John Sheridan his Book 1771; according to Prescott, probably the author of The present practice of the Court of King's Bench, 1774. Second part, title page verso: manuscript poem to Spenser in the same hand, signed "Jn Sheridan"; first line: "Immortal poet that with Stile Sublime." Gift of Anne Lake Prescott, 2010-11-24.
Binding Information
In early binding, embroidery on velvet over boards, reinforced with vellum printed waste; initials "ET"; edges gilt. Stamp of 7-digit number, pencilled call number. Shelved in case.
Publications About Described Materials
Prescott, Anne Lake. "Two copies of the 1596 Faerie queene." Spenser studies, v. 23 (2008): 261-273.
STC 23082 copy 7 fragment Bd.w. STC 23081 copy 2 fragment
Folger-specific note
Imperfect: consists of nine loose leaves: A6-A8 and C1-C3 from the 1590 edition (particular variant not identifiable), and leaves B4-5 and H1 from the 1596 edition.
