aka/ Medieval Library (1921-1926)
Chatto & Windus (London, UK)
Series dates: 1907-1912; 1921-1926, a few reprints to 1978
Size: 5″ x 6.75″ (“Post 8vo”)
Duffield & Co. (New York, US)
Series dates: 1908-1912
Cooper Square Publishers (New York, US)
Series dates: 1966-1970
Chatto & Windus first issued their New Medieval Library in 1907, edited by Israel Gollancz. A few C&W books with publication dates from about 1890-1896 include the series in a publisher catalog bound in the books. After a bit of searching, I can find no evidence, besides these catalogs, that the series was issued before 1907.
This example (below) is from the Chatto & Windus catalog in the back of This Stage of Fools, by Leonard Merrick. Chatto & Windus, 1896. It’s possible the books with the 1890s dates were later reprints, without an updated year of publication.
Neither can I find an “old” Medieval Library. Based on a search of WorldCat there does not seem to be a series called the Medieval (or Mediaeval) Library published by Chatto & Windus or any publisher. There is a series published 1872-1877 by T. Richardson (London and New York) called the Mediaeval Library of Mystical and Ascetical Works.
An advertisement for the first three volumes of Chatto & Windus’ New Medieval Library appears in The Saturday Review, November 2, 1907 (below). Titles in the series contain “novel” material published “in authentic medieval style” including wood-cut titles and “bindings of the old style.” Binding styles include boards at 5s. net. and pigskin with clasps (medieval style) at 7s./6d. net.
The Bibliophile, vol. 1, March 1908 includes a quote from a review of the series:
Twelve titles were issued in the New Medieval Library between 1907 and 1912. A list of the titles with their series number and details can be found below.
The 12 titles in the series were co-published in the U.S. by Duffield & Co., of New York. They issued all 12 titles beginning in 1908 and ending, as with Chatto & Windus, in 1912.
The New Medieval Library (1907-1912)
1. THE BOOK OF THE DUKE OF TRUE LOVERS (1907)
By CHRISTINE DE PISAN; a French romance of the 15th century. Translated into prose and verse with an introduction by ALICE KEMP-WELCH, LAURENCE BINYON and E.R.D. MACLAGAN. With 6 photogravure plates after illuminations in the original MS.
2. THE TUMBLER OF OUR LADY & OTHER MIRACLES (1908)
Mainly from a collection made by GAUTIER DE COINCI, a monk of St. Medard near Soissons; French, 13th century. Translated in prose with an introduction by ALICE KEMP-WELCH. With 7 photogravure plates after contemporary MSS.
3. THE CHATELAINE OF VERGI (1907)
ANONYMOUS; a French love-poem of the 13th century. Translated into prose by ALICE KEMP-WELCH. With an introduction by Prof. L. BRANDIN and the original text in an Appendix. With 5 photogravure plates after an ivory casket of the 14th century now in the British Museum.
4. THE BABEES’ BOOK: MEDIEVAL MANNERS for the YOUNG (1908)
From the Old English texts of Dr. Furnivall; 14th and 15th centuries. Done into modern prose and verse with an introduction and notes by EDITH RICKERT. With 6 photogravure plates after illuminations in contemporary MSS.
5. THE DIVINE CONSOLATION of the BLESSED ANGELA da FOLIGNO (1908)
By the SAME; Italian, 14th century. Translated in prose by M. G. STEEGMAN and with an introduction by ALGAR THOROLD. With photo. front. after Pierantonio Mezzastris and 4 woodcuts after the original edition of 1536.
6. THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY FINA, VIRGIN of S. GEMIGNANO (1908)
By FRA GIOVANNI DI CAPPO; Italian, 14th century. Translated in prose with an introduction and notes by M. MANSFIELD. With the original text and 5 photogravures after Benozzo Gozzoli, Ghirlandaio, etc.
7. EARLY ENGLISH ROMANCES OF LOVE (1908)
ANONYMOUS; 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Containing: ‘Floris and Blancheflour,’ ‘Sir Degrevant,’ ‘The Squire of Low Degree,’ etc. Done into modern prose with introduction and notes by EDITH RICKERT. With 5 photogravures after contemporary MSS.
8. EARLY ENGLISH ROMANCES OF FRIENDSHIP (1908)
ANONYMOUS; 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Containing: ‘Amis and Amiloun,’ ‘Sir Amadis,’ ‘The Tale of Gamelyn,’ etc. Done into modern prose with introduction and notes by EDITH RICKERT. With 6 photogravure plates after contemporary MSS.
*9. THE CELL OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE (1910)
By RICHARD oF ST. VICTOR, WALTER HILTON, MARGERY KEMPE, etc.; 7 English mystical treatises of the 14th cent. Edited with introduction and notes by EDMUND G. GARDNER, M.A. With coloured collotype frontispiece.
10. ANCIENT ENGLISH CHRISTMAS CAROLS (1909)
TRADITIONAL; 1400-1700. Collected and arranged by EDITH RICKERT with intro., notes and glossary. With 8 photogravure plates after missals of the 15th and 16th cents. Price 7s.6d. net.
11. EIGHT TROUBADOR POETS (1911)
Containing BERTRAN DE BORN, BERNART DE VENTADORN, GUIRAUT DE BORNELH, ARNAUT DANIEL, etc.; Provencal, 11th- 13th centuries. Selected and translated in prose with intros. and notes by BARBARA SMYTHE. With a coloured frontispiece and decorative initials.
12. CLIGES (1912)
By CHRETIEN DE TROYES; a French romance of the 13th century. Translated in prose by L.J. GARDINER, M.A. With photo. front.
The Medieval Library series supplants the New Medieval Library after a nine-year break. The first new title (#13) appears in 1921 and the initial 12 titles are reissued under the modified series name. Chatto & Windus seems to be the only firm publishing the restarted series. The series would reach #28 issued in 1926. There were infrequent reprints by Chatto & Windus up to 1978. Cooper Square Publishers (New York, US) reissued most of the series (without jackets, it seems) in 1966-1970.
The Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond, translated from the Latin by L.C. Jane and with a preface by Cardinal Gasquet, is number 15 in the renamed series. The jacket spine includes the price (5s/- net), publisher colophon, series name and title. The jacket front uses the “medieval” looking design surrounding old-style typography for the book title, translator, and author of the preface. The series number (XV) and series name are along the bottom of the jacket front. The front jacket flap is blank.
The rear of the jacket includes the series name, general editor (Gollancz) brief prospectus for the series and list of 16 titles available as of the issuance of this title in 1922. Twelve more titles would be issued through 1926, for a total of 28 titles, total, in the series.
The Medieval Library (1921-1926)
Reissues of #1-#12 carry the revised Medieval Library series name
13. PEARL (1921)
An English poem of the 14th century. Translated and edited by SIR ISRAEL GOLLANCZ, Litt.D., F.B.A. With textual and explanatory notes, glossary, photogravure frontispiece after HOLMAN HUNT and 6 illustrations after the original MS. With the Olympia of BOCCACCIO in an Appendix. Price 7s.6d. net. I
14. EARLY LIVES OF CHARLEMAGNE (1922)
By EGINHARD and THR MONK OF ST. GALL.; German, 9th century. Translated from the Latin and edited with introduction and notes by Prof. by A.J. GRANT. With photogravure frontispiece.
15. THE CHRONICLE OF JOCELIN OF BRAKELOND (1922)
By the SAME; a picture of English social and monastic life in the 12th century. Translated from the Latin and edited with notes by L.C. LANE, M.A. With an introduction by CARDINAL GASQUET and a photogravure frontispiece.
16. THE VISION OF PIERS THE PLOWMAN (1922)
By WILLIAM LANGLAND; English, 14th century. Done into modern metrical English with introduction and notes by Prof. W.W. SKEAT. With frontispiece after contemporary MS.
17. The Plays of Roswitha (1923)
By Hrotsvitha; Christopher St John
18. The Nun’s Rule (1924)
Ed. by James Morton, Francis Aidan Gasquet
19. The English Correspondence of St. Boniface (1924)
By Saint Boniface, Archbishop of Mainz, ed. by Edward Kylie
20: Mediaeval Lore from Bartholomew Anglicus (1924)
By Bartholomaeus Anglicus, ed. John Trevisa, Robert Steele
21. The Song of Roland (1924)
Ed. by Jessie Raven Crosland
22. Asser’s Life of King Alfred (1924)
By John Asser, ed. Lionel Cecil Jane
23. Translations From the Icelandic: Being Select Passages Introductory to Icelandic Literature (1924)
Ed., W.C. Green
24. The Love of Books: the Philobiblon of Richard de Bury (1925)
By Richard de Bury. ed. by Ernest Chester Thomas, Israel Gollancz
25. The Rule of Saint Benedict (1925)
By Saint Benedict, Abbot of Monte Cassino, ed. by Francis Aidan Gasquet
26. Wine, Women and Song: Mediaeval Latin Students’ Songs (1925)
Ed. by John Addington Symonds
27. Beowulf (1926)
Ed. by D.H. Crawford
28. Raoul de Cambrai: An Old French Feudal Epic (1926)
Ed. by Jessie Crosland
Bindings are in brown boards with some debossed lines on the spine (to look “medieval” I suppose) and gold typography and decorations, which follow the designs on the jackets. The series name is not included on the binding.
The series name and general editor is included on the 2nd page in the book:
The half-title follows:
Dates of printing (original 1907, reissue in the series, 1922) follow the half-title page:
An illustrated frontispiece is separated with bound-in tissue from the title page.
The title page includes the publisher and date of publication (1922):
A quote faces the book’s introduction:
“Printed by the De La More Press, Ltd., 10 Clifford St., London, W. 1.” A catalog of series titles through #16 is bound in the back of the book.
The full list of series titles (The New Medieval Library, The Medieval Library) is below:
The New Medieval Library (1907-1912)
*1. THE BOOK OF THE DUKE OF TRUE LOVERS (1907)
By CHRISTINE DE PISAN; a French romance of the 15th century. Translated into prose and verse with an introduction by ALICE KEMP-WELCH, LAURENCE BINYON and E.R.D. MACLAGAN. With 6 photogravure plates after illuminations in the original MS.
*2. THE TUMBLER OF OUR LADY & OTHER MIRACLES (1908)
Mainly from a collection made by GAUTIER DE COINCI, a monk of St. Medard near Soissons; French, 13th century. Translated in prose with an introduction by ALICE KEMP-WELCH. With 7 photogravure plates after contemporary MSS.
*3. THE CHATELAINE OF VERGI (1907)
ANONYMOUS; a French love-poem of the 13th century. Translated into prose by ALICE KEMP-WELCH. With an introduction by Prof. L. BRANDIN and the original text in an Appendix. With 5 photogravure plates after an ivory casket of the 14th century now in the British Museum.
*4. THE BABEES’ BOOK: MEDIEVAL MANNERS for the YOUNG (1908)
From the Old English texts of Dr. Furnivall; 14th and 15th centuries. Done into modern prose and verse with an introduction and notes by EDITH RICKERT. With 6 photogravure plates after illuminations in contemporary MSS.
*5. THE DIVINE CONSOLATION of the BLESSED ANGELA da FOLIGNO (1908)
By the SAME; Italian, 14th century. Translated in prose by M. G. STEEGMAN and with an introduction by ALGAR THOROLD. With photo. front. after Pierantonio Mezzastris and 4 woodcuts after the original edition of 1536.
*6. THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY FINA, VIRGIN of S. GEMIGNANO (1908)
By FRA GIOVANNI DI CAPPO; Italian, 14th century. Translated in prose with an introduction and notes by M. MANSFIELD. With the original text and 5 photogravures after Benozzo Gozzoli, Ghirlandaio, etc.
*7. EARLY ENGLISH ROMANCES OF LOVE (1908)
ANONYMOUS; 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Containing: ‘Floris and Blancheflour,’ ‘Sir Degrevant,’ ‘The Squire of Low Degree,’ etc. Done into modern prose with introduction and notes by EDITH RICKERT. With 5 photogravures after contemporary MSS.
*8. EARLY ENGLISH ROMANCES OF FRIENDSHIP (1908)
ANONYMOUS; 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Containing: ‘Amis and Amiloun,’ ‘Sir Amadis,’ ‘The Tale of Gamelyn,’ etc. Done into modern prose with introduction and notes by EDITH RICKERT. With 6 photogravure plates after contemporary MSS.
*9. THE CELL OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE (1910)
By RICHARD oF ST. VICTOR, WALTER HILTON, MARGERY KEMPE, etc.; 7 English mystical treatises of the 14th cent. Edited with introduction and notes by EDMUND G. GARDNER, M.A. With coloured collotype frontispiece.
*10. ANCIENT ENGLISH CHRISTMAS CAROLS (1909)
TRADITIONAL; 1400-1700. Collected and arranged by EDITH RICKERT with intro., notes and glossary. With 8 photogravure plates after missals of the 15th and 16th cents. Price 7s.6d. net.
*11. EIGHT TROUBADOR POETS (1911)
Containing BERTRAN DE BORN, BERNART DE VENTADORN, GUIRAUT DE BORNELH, ARNAUT DANIEL, etc.; Provencal, 11th- 13th centuries. Selected and translated in prose with intros. and notes by BARBARA SMYTHE. With a coloured frontispiece and decorative initials.
*12. CLIGES (1912)
By CHRETIEN DE TROYES; a French romance of the 13th century. Translated in prose by L.J. GARDINER, M.A. With photo. front.
The Medieval Library (1921-1926)
Reissues of #1-#12 carry the Medieval Library series name
13. PEARL (1921)
An English poem of the 14th century. Translated and edited by SIR ISRAEL GOLLANCZ, Litt.D., F.B.A. With textual and explanatory notes, glossary, photogravure frontispiece after HOLMAN HUNT and 6 illustrations after the original MS. With the Olympia of BOCCACCIO in an Appendix. Price 7s.6d. net. I
14. EARLY LIVES OF CHARLEMAGNE (1922)
By EGINHARD and THR MONK OF ST. GALL.; German, 9th century. Translated from the Latin and edited with introduction and notes by Prof. by A.J. GRANT. With photogravure frontispiece.
15. THE CHRONICLE OF JOCELIN OF BRAKELOND (1922)
By the SAME; a picture of English social and monastic life in the 12th century. Translated from the Latin and edited with notes by L.C. LANE, M.A. With an introduction by CARDINAL GASQUET and a photogravure frontispiece.
16. THE VISION OF PIERS THE PLOWMAN (1922)
By WILLIAM LANGLAND; English, 14th century. Done into modern metrical English with introduction and notes by Prof. W.W. SKEAT. With frontispiece after contemporary MS.
17. The Plays of Roswitha (1923)
By Hrotsvitha; Christopher St John
18. The Nun’s Rule (1924)
Ed. by James Morton, Francis Aidan Gasquet
19. The English Correspondence of St. Boniface (1924)
By Saint Boniface, Archbishop of Mainz, ed. by Edward Kylie
20: Mediaeval Lore from Bartholomew Anglicus (1924)
By Bartholomaeus Anglicus, ed. John Trevisa, Robert Steele
21. The Song of Roland (1924)
Ed. by Jessie Raven Crosland
22. Asser’s Life of King Alfred (1924)
By John Asser, ed. Lionel Cecil Jane
23. Translations From the Icelandic: Being Select Passages Introductory to Icelandic Literature (1924)
Ed., W.C. Green
24. The Love of Books: the Philobiblon of Richard de Bury (1925)
By Richard de Bury. ed. by Ernest Chester Thomas, Israel Gollancz
25. The Rule of Saint Benedict (1925)
By Saint Benedict, Abbot of Monte Cassino, ed. by Francis Aidan Gasquet
26. Wine, Women and Song: Mediaeval Latin Students’ Songs (1925)
Ed. by John Addington Symonds
27. Beowulf (1926)
Ed. by D.H. Crawford
28. Raoul de Cambrai: An Old French Feudal Epic (1926)
Ed. by Jessie Crosland
*Published in the US by Duffield & Co. (New York)
