Whoever the overseer may have been, whether in the employment of Ponsonby, Windet, or Field, and however unfortunate the result of his literary judgment, he produced a book which for beauty may take its place with the best of the period. The Roman type and excellent press-work distinguish it amongst the mass of inferior productions. Large ornamental initial letters, more or less related, are used at the beginning of all the Books, while Book I begins with an especially fine allegorical woodcut initial representing a crowned Tudor rose, Justice with her foot on Medusa's head, and Peace. Head- and tail-pieces, some of type metal and some woodcuts, are used at the beginning of the Books to give added effect. At the end of the sixteenth chapter of Book III is a panel made of type-metal ornaments, intended to hold the lines referred to in the words: "Vpon which, Baſilius himself cauſed this Epitaph to be written." These, however, owing to the printer's oversight, were never added.
In setting up the title-page, it may be that Ponsonby followed Sidney's hint, and so sought "the chief protection" of the name of the Countess, and, not content with the name alone, added the coat-of-arms of the Sidney family.
Quarto. Roman.
Collation: A-Zz, in eights.
EDMUND SPENSER
(1552?-1599)
12. The Faerie | Queene. | Diſpoſed into twelue books, | Faſhioning | XII. Morall vertues. | [Printer's mark] London | Printed for William Ponſonbie. | 1590.
On December 1, 1589, "Maſter Ponſonbye. Entered for his Copye, a booke intytuled the fayrye Queene dyspoſed into xij. bookes. &c. Aucthoryzed vnder thandes of the Archbishop of Canterbery, and bothe the wardens ... vjd."
Spenser's name not being mentioned and not being printed on the title-page, it would almost seem as if he had wished his book to be anonymous; but that was probably not the case, because the dedication on the verso of the title, "To the Most Mightie And Magnificent Empresse Elizabeth ..." is signed by "Her moſt humble Seruant, Ed. Spenſer." The "Letter of the Authors Expounding his whole intention in the Courſe of the worke.... To the Right Noble, and Valorous Sir Walter Raleigh ..." is also signed "Ed. Spenſer," and the last two of his poems addressed to various personages are signed "E. S."