Ellesmere Chaucer

The Ellesmere manuscript, also Ellesmere Chaucer, is a manuscript of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It dates from the early 15th century and is located in the Huntington Library in San Marino ( California ) (MS EL 26 C 9). It is considered one of the most important and most beautiful manuscripts of the Canterbury Tales.

History

The manuscript was probably written immediately after 1400th received its name it by its later owner, Sir Thomas Egerton ( 1540-1617 ), Baron Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley. It remained in the family until it was purchased in 1917 by Henry Huntington.

Description

The Ellesmere manuscript consists of 240 sheets, 232 of which contain the Canterbury Tales. It has numerous illustrations, including one that shows Chaucer himself on a horse. It consists of vellum and is approximately 400 mm x 284 mm in size. In most cases the manuscript is called El. There is a facsimile edition.