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188029016London: Smith Elder and Co. 1880. 3 volumes. First edition. 8vo in the publisher's original and Purdy's primary binding of red cloth the upper cover lettered and paneled to produce two vignettes from drawings by Hardy all in black the spines lettered and decorated with sword and trumpet in gilt and black and with the two line ruled borders on the rear covers in blind. Housed in a blue cloth-coverd clamshell box with morocco label gilt lettered. ii vi 296; ii vi 276; ii vi 259 pp. A very handsome set the bindings attractive and fresh expert and unobtrusive refurbishment at the spine tips the text-block tight and quite clean and fresh essentially no spotting whatsoever and only the lightest age mellowing a very pleasing set indeed. THE FIRST EDITION OF HARDY'S EPIC NOVEL OF THE NAPOLEONIC WAR A VERY ATTRACTIVE SET IN ORIGINAL CLOTH. Purdy notes the edition was printed in only 1000 copies. The cover illustrations were designed by Hardy and feature two vignettes one of an encampment on a river which leads down to the second of a mill. Hardy wrote the story to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Trafalgar it was first printed in an abridged form in "Good Words". It is Hardy's only historical novel. Smith, Elder and Co. hardcover
187829000London: Smith Elder and Company 1878. 3 volumes. First edition and with the first issue state of the title-page to Vol. I. A COPY WITH FINE PROVENANCE FROM THE DOHENY COLLECTION WITH THE FINE MOROCCO LABELS GILT OF ESTELLE DOHENY AT THE PASTEDOWNS. With a cartographic frontispiece in the first volume drawn by Hardy. 8vo in the publisher's original brown fine-ribbed cloth with panels and simple ornaments blocked in black on the upper boards; the lower boards with a simple blind-stamped double ruled border the spines attractively lettered and decorated in gilt and black Purdy's first issue binding which is Sadleir's second. Now housed together in a single morocco backed slipcase with chemise the spine tooled and decorated as a three volume set of books. ii vi 304; ii vi 297 298 ad leaf; ii vi 320. A pleasing set in fully original state the original cloth still bright with vivid decoration. Some of the expected rubbing along the edges and tips the volumes just a touch shaken but the set fully unsophisticated and with no repairs or restoration the textblocks still quite fresh. A rare work in the original cloth. A VERY HANDSOME AND PROPER SET IN FULLY ORIGINAL STATE AND WITH THE VERY FINE PROVENANCE OF THE DOHENY COLLECTION. THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE was written at Riverside Villa Sturnmonster Newton though probably finished at Upper Tooting where the Hardys took a house in March of 1878. The first seven chapters were written by the summer of 1877 and the first two books by November and serial publication was begun in Chatto and Windus's "Belgravia" in January 1878. <br> Hardy had offered the novel to Leslie Stephen for the "Cornhill" magazine but the latter feared that the novel's personal relations were developing into something too dangerous for a family magazine and he refused to begin a serial publication without seeing the completed work. Since this was not possible Hardy's association with Stephen as editor was ended and Smith Elder and Co. agreed on 20 September to publish the finished novel. The book was published in November of 1878 in an edition of only 1000 copies. It was never again reprinted in three-volume format. Smith, Elder and Company hardcover
187629015London: Smith Elder & Co. 1876. 2 volumes. First edition. With eleven attractive wood-engraved plates after George Du Maurier. Tall 8vos in the publisher's original and primary binding of brick-red cloth the upper covers with lettering blocked in gilt within elaborate black Victorian borders the spines decorated and lettered similarly in black and gilt cafe-au-lait endpapers. Now housed in a fine cloth-covered clamshell box with attractive printed label. vi 1 322 2 ad; vi 1 318 2 ad pp. An uncommonly handsome set of one of Hardy's rarest works all the more so in original cloth and desirable condition. The cloth is still quite fresh with no fading and bright gilt just a bit of expected mellowing and rubbing at the tips or extremities the text brighter and cleaner then is typically seen any foxing being only occasional and quite light the plates especially clean. A VERY ATTRACTIVE SET OF ONE OF HARDY'S RAREST WORKS LISTED AS NUMBER FOUR IN COMPARATIVE SCARCITY BY SADLEIR. It is even more rare in the original cloth and in this state of condition most copies being either overly repaired or overtly shabby.<br> The events of the story concern Ethelberta's career as a famous poet and storyteller as she struggles to support her family and conceal her secret—that her father is a butler. Beautiful clever and rational she easily attracts four very persistent suitors Mr. Julian Mr. Neigh Mr. Ladywell and Lord Mountclere but is reluctant to give her much-coveted hand. Smith, Elder, & Co. hardcover
188225721London: Sampson Low Marston Searle & Rivington 1882. 3 volumes. Scarce first edition. 8vo bound by Zaehnsdorf in near contemporary three-quarter blue morocco over blue marbled boards the spines are gilt lettered in two compartments and have wide gilt decorated raised bands t.e.g. the original blue cloth to the upper cover and spine of Volume I has been retained and bound in. Now housed in a fine morocco backed foldover protective case. 246; 240; 223 pp. A very pleasing and handsome set quite fine internally with just a bit of normal age mellowing to the text the original half-titles retained the antique bindings with some light evidence of age or use at the joints and extremities. first Edition one of Hardy's Wessex novels set in a parallel version of late Victorian Dorset. It is a tale of star-crossed love in which the unhappily married Lady Constantine breaks all the rules of social decorum when she falls in love with Swithin St. Cleeve an astronomer who is ten years her junior. Her husband's death leaves the lovers free to marry but the discovery of a legacy forces them apart. This is Hardy's most complete treatment of the theme of love across the class and age divide and the fullest expression of his fascination with science and astronomy.<br> Because the book defied the social norms of the day upon release it was called shocking and even repulsive by some critics. Hardy wrote in a letter to Edmund Gosse on 10 Dec 1882 “I get most extraordinary criticisms of T. on a T. Eminent critics write & tell me in private that it is the most original thing I have done.while other eminent critics I wonder if they are the same print the most cutting rebukes you can conceive—show me to my amazement that I am quite an immoral person.†Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington hardcover
188129225London: Sampson Low Marston Searle and Rivington 1881. 3 volumes. First English edition. 8vo bound in the publisher's original slate gray cloth the covers blocked in blind the spine panels lettered and decorated in gilt. Now housed in a fine morocco backed foldover case. 312; 275; 269 pp. A handsome and especially well preserved set the cloth retaining its original handsome quality. internally fine with just a bit of normal age mellowing to the text the original half-titles retained. FIRST EDITION OF HARDY'S MOST CONTEMPORARY NOVEL. Unlike his Wessex novels this is work is set in the more technologically advanced contemporaneous age so the plot exhibits devices uncommon among Hardy's novels such as falsified telegrams and faked photographs. It was originally published in monthly installments in the European edition of Harper's New Monthly Magazine from December 1880 to December 1881. Due to this arrangement Harper was able to publish the work in book form first but this English edition was only issued a few weeks later and contains revisions made by Hardy not included in Harper's issue. It is the only three-decker issue published and the print run is presumed to be only around 1000 copies. Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington hardcover
187229198London: Tinsley Brothers 1872. 2 volumes. Rare First edition. A Copy with Interesting Provenance in the circles of American commerce and finance. 8vo handsomely bound in antique full maroon morocco for Sawyer of Grafton Street London the boards with a triple gilt ruled frame the spines with gilt stippled raised bands and gilt framed compartments two of which are lettered in gilt additional gilt lettering at the foot of the spine panels gilt ruled board edges gilt tooled turn-ins marbled endpapers and t.e.g. 215; 216 pp. A very handsome set the bindings with only a little light aging all very solid and firm and very attractive the text also fine with just a hint of age mellowing. THE FIRST OF THE GREAT SERIES OF WESSEX NOVELS THE AUTHOR'S SECOND PUBLISHED NOVEL AND THE LAST TO BE PUBLISHED WITHOUT HIS NAME. QUITE RARE Purdy presumed the print run to be only about 500 copies. It is an important precursor to Hardy's major works. The Wessex rustics who play critical roles in Hardy's later novels such as The Return of the Native and The Mayor of Casterbridge claim the centre stage as they debut here.<br> This copy with the bookplates of noted book collector and "the most colorful and attractive figure in the commercial banking world" Albert Henry Wiggin of Greenwich who in 1941 donated several thousand pieces of his collection to the Boston Public Library. Also with the bookplates of Connecticut banker Lynde Selden vice-chairman of the board of American Express from 1941 to 1956. Tinsley Brothers hardcover
187534279London: The Cornhill Magazine Smith Elder and Co. 1875-1876. 11 volumes. First Edition of the original issue presented in original format in the eleven volumes issued over the course of months from July 1875 through May 1876. With eleven attractive wood-engraved plates after George Du Maurier. Tall octavo in the publisher's original wrappers all decorated on the front and rear covers with a great profusion of ads throughout. Now housed in two fine morocco backed foldover cases the spine panels with raised bands ruled in blind the compartments lettered in gilt or decorated with central gilt tooled designs. The 11 original parts bound in the original orange wrappers each part containing 4 chapters plus other short stories poems articles etc. An uncommonly handsome set of one of Hardy's rarest works all the more so in original format in the first issue example of the work and in collector's condition. The volumes are each still quite fresh with no significant wear and just a bit of expected mellowing and rubbing at the tips or extremities the text brighter and cleaner then is typically seen especially well preserved. A VERY ATTRACTIVE SET IN ORIGINAL FORMAT RARE IN THE PARTS AND ONE OF HARDY'S SCARCEST WORKS LISTED AS NUMBER FOUR IN COMPARATIVE SCARCITY IN BOOK FORM BY SADLEIR. It is even more rare in the original wraps and in this state of condition most copies being either rebound or separated for binding presentation.<br> The events of the story concern Ethelberta's career as a famous poet and storyteller as she struggles to support her family and conceal her secret—that her father is a butler. Beautiful clever and rational she easily attracts four very persistent suitors Mr. Julian Mr. Neigh Mr. Ladywell and Lord Mountclere but is reluctant to give her much-coveted hand. The Cornhill Magazine, Smith, Elder and Co. paperback
18876350Macmillan 1887. 3 vols. 8vo. First Edition some very light spotting on half-titles on advertisement leaf and rear free endpaper of first volume and on final page of text and rear free endpaper of third volume; original dark-green buckram-grain cloth blocked in black with double frame border enclosing an inner frame border with radial corners gilt backs chocolate-brown endpapers uncut very neatly rebacked to style with original backstrips lightly chipped at heads and tails laid down a very good bright clean copy housed in a custom-made mid-green cloth slip-case lettered in gilt and with inner ribbon-pull. ONE OF MACMILLAN'S FEW PRESENTATION COPIES with neat 'With the Publisher's Compliments' stamp in ink on upper margins of titles. With the advertisement leaf in vol. I as called for. 'The Woodlanders' was published in an edition of 1000 copies on 15 March 1887. Only 860 copies were bound up in this primary binding; the remaining copies were bound in the similar but less detailed secondary binding and remaindered by the publisher by the end of June of the same year. It was never reprinted in three-volume form. A pencilled note on rear free endpaper indicates that the sympathetic rebacking was effected by George Bayntun of Bath. Written at Max Gate 'The Woodlanders' was referred to by Hardy as 'his best and his own favourite among his novels'. See Purdy p.54-57. Macmillan, hardcover
188729220London: Macmillan 1887. 3 volumes. First edition. First issue in first binding state with the called for advertisement leaf at the end of Vol. I. 8vo original dark green very-fine bead-grain cloth blocked in black and lettered in gold; with dark chocolate end papers. In green slipcase. iv 302 ads; iv 328; iv 316. Half-titles in each. A nice copy with less than the usual normal wear or rubbing to the cloth and end papers. FIRST EDITION IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH. First published in MACMILLAN’S MAGAZINE this is a novel of unrequited love set in the country near the Blackmoor Vale of Dorset. It is a tragic tale of the consequences resulting from the quest for status among the country people. <br> In THE WOODLANDERS as in all his work Thomas Hardy is concerned with one thing seen under two aspects; not civilization nor manners but the principle of life itself invisibly realized in humanity as sex seen visibly in the world as what we call nature. He is.a determinist and he studies the workings of fate or law ruling through inexorable moods or humours in the chief vivifying and disturbing influence in life women. His view of women is more french than English; it is subtle a little cruel.thoroughly a man's point of view and not man's and woman's at once.No one has created more attractive women of a certain class women whom a man would have been more likely to love or to regret loving. In The Woodlanders women are allowed more liberty with a franker treatment of instinct and its consequences. Macmillan hardcover
188829205London: Macmillan and Co. 1888. 2 volumes. First edition. A publisher's presentation copy with their purple "Compliments" stamp to Vol. I. 8vo in the scarce original dark blue/green cloth the boards with ruled lines in light green the spines also ruled in light green and with letting in gilt. Now housed in a fine custom clamshell box. 247; 212 pp. A fine set and scarce in the publisher's cloth this a very rare "Publishers' Compliments" copy. The text clean and fresh the binding bright with only a tiny bit of age or wear. A SCARCE HARDY TITLE IN ORIGINAL CLOTH THERE WERE ONLY 750 COPIES PRINTED AND OF THOSE ONLY 634 WERE BOUND the rest of the sheets were remaindered. This copy is not only very unusual for its exceptional and bright condition but also for being a publisher's presentation copy.<br> The work consists of five stories The Three Strangers The Withered Arm Fellow-Townsmen Interlopers at the Knap and The Distracted Preacherpreviously published only in serials. In the various short stories Hardy writes of the true nature of nineteenth-century marriage and its inherent restrictions the use of grammar as a diluted form of thought the disparities created by the role of class status in determining societal rank the stance of women in society and the severity of even minor diseases causing the rapid onset of fatal symptoms prior to the introduction of sufficient medicinal practices. A focal point of all the short stories is that of social constraints acting to diminish one's contentment in life necessitating unwanted marriages repression of true emotion and succumbing to melancholia due to constriction within the confines of 19th-century perceived normalcy. Macmillan and Co. hardcover
188229199London: Sampson Low Marston Searle & Rivington 1882. 3 volumes. Scarce First Edition. 8vo in handsome near contemporary three-quarter tan morocco over wove cloth boards the spines with gilt stippled raised bands between gilt framed compartments four compartments with central gilt tools two gilt lettered additional gilt rules at the tips and lettering at the tail softly marbled end-leaves t.e.g. 246; 240; 223 pp. A very appealing and handsome set quite fine internally with far less then typically mellowing to the paper and that only at the edges the original half-titles retained the antique bindings with only trivial evidence of age sturdy and sound with fine and firm hinges. first Edition one of Hardy's Wessex novels set in a parallel version of late Victorian Dorset. It is a tale of star-crossed love in which the unhappily married Lady Constantine breaks all the rules of social decorum when she falls in love with Swithin St. Cleeve an astronomer who is ten years her junior. Her husband's death leaves the lovers free to marry but the discovery of a legacy forces them apart. This is Hardy's most complete treatment of the theme of love across the class and age divide and the fullest expression of his fascination with science and astronomy.<br> Because the book defied the social norms of the day upon release it was called shocking and even repulsive by some critics. Hardy wrote in a letter to Edmund Gosse on 10 Dec 1882 “I get most extraordinary criticisms of T. on a T. Eminent critics write & tell me in private that it is the most original thing I have done.while other eminent critics I wonder if they are the same print the most cutting rebukes you can conceive—show me to my amazement that I am quite an immoral person.†Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington hardcover
19131262731913. First Edition. HARDY Thomas. A Changed Man The Waiting Supper and Other Tales Concluding with The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid. London: Macmillan 1913. Octavo original dark green cloth top edge gilt original dust jacket. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and slipcase. $2500.First edition of this collection of a dozen of Hardy's short stories including his lengthy gothic tale ""The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid"" with photogravure frontispiece in very scarce original dust jacket.""A Changed Man is a group of 'a dozen minor novels' that had lain uncollected in English and American periodicals half of them for a quarter of a century or more. They 'would probably have never been collected by me at this time of day' Hardy wrote 'if frequent reprints of some of them in America and elsewhere had not set many readers inquiring for them in a volume' There is much of interest in the volume: the introduction of soldiers and the use of historical setting in the tales written in the '90s when The Dynasts was taking shape; the snatches of reminiscence and family tradition in 'A Tryst at an Ancient Earthwork' and 'The Duke's Reappearance'; the reflection in 'Alicia's Diary' of Hardy's Italian journey a few months before "" Purdy 155-56. One of 10000 copies; the 12 stories here collected had all been published previously in periodicals. Purdy 151-57. Webb 39-40. Old bookseller description tipped to front free endpaper.Book fine very scarce and fragile original dust jacket with light edge-wear and gently toned spine extremely good. hardcover
18961262721896. First Edition. HARDY Thomas. Jude the Obscure. London: Osgood McIlvaine 1896. Octavo original gilt-stamped blue-green cloth top edge gilt uncut. Housed in a custom cloth chemise and half morocco slipcase. $2200.First edition first issue of Hardy's last work of fiction with map and lovely frontispiece etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn in original cloth. The copy of Frank J. Hogan with his morocco-gilt bookplate.Jude the Obscure ""was begun as a serial story in Harper's Magazine at the end of November 1894 and was continued in monthly parts. But as in the case of Tess of the d'Urbervilles the magazine version was for various reasons abridged and modified in some degree the present edition being the first in which the whole appears as originally written"" Webb 83. The novel was received with mixed reviews due to its disturbing content and implications that it was autobiographical. Burned by a bishop and banned for its ""indecency"" Jude became Hardy's last work of fiction Smith-Seymour 547. First issue with Osgood's name on verso of title and gilt-stamped on spine. Mixed first and second state mostly first with seven of the first eight signatures containing page numbers on the partially blank pages; mixed states are very common Purdy 87. Purdy 86-91. Sadleir 1108. Sterling 456. Wolff 2979. Hogan Catalogue Part II April 24 1945 item 357. The copy of esteemed collector and attorney Frank J. Hogan 1877-1944 with his morocco-gilt bookplate laid in. By the time of his death the Hogan Library was one of the world's most valuable private collections; the books were dispersed at auction in 1945 and 1946. Owner pencil signature.Ink stains to pages 68-69; a few pages roughly opened. Cloth clean gilt bright. A handsome near-fine copy with excellent provenance. hardcover
188125542London: Sampson Low Marston Searle and Rivington 1881. 3 volumes. First English edition. 8vo bound in antique three-quarter blue morocco over blue marbled boards the spines are gilt lettered in two compartments and have wide gilt decorated raised bands t.e.g. the original slate gray cloth to the upper cover and spine of Volume I has been retained and bound in. Now housed in a fine morocco backed foldover case. 312; 275; 269 pp. A handsome and well preserved set internally fine with just a bit of normal age mellowing to the text the original half-titles retained the antique bindings with some evidence of age or use at the joints and extremities. FIRST EDITION OF HARDY'S MOST CONTEMPORARY NOVEL. Unlike his Wessex novels this is work is set in the more technologically advanced contemporaneous age so the plot exhibits devices uncommon among Hardy's novels such as falsified telegrams and faked photographs. It was originally published in monthly installments in the European edition of Harper's New Monthly Magazine from December 1880 to December 1881. Due to this arrangement Harper was able to publish the work in book form first but this English edition was only issued a few weeks later and contains revisions made by Hardy not included in Harper's issue. It is the only three-decker issue published and the print run is presumed to be only around 1000 copies. Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington hardcover
189823362New York and London: Harper and Brothers 1898. First Edition. With 30 illustrations by the author. 8vo publisher’s original blue ribbed cloth the spine lettered in gilt upper cover with Hardy’s floral monogram device in gilt. xi 228 pp. A very handsome and pleasing copy internally very fine and essentially pristine the cloth very well preserved spine just a tad mellowed. FIRST EDITION IN THE ORIGINAL CLOTH. A lovely copy of Hardy’s first significant publishing venture as a poet. Though better known now as a novelist Hardy rated poetry above fiction. Like many of his novels the landscapes of Dorset echoes throughout his writing. The poetry is scarce unadorned and surprisingly modern. Though first published in 1898 it contains poems he’d been working on since the 1860s. Harper and Brothers hardcover
188149577Sampson Low Marston Searle & Rivington 1881-1882 1881. 3 vols. 8vo. First Edition thus with illustrations all save one full-page; original brown cloth upper boards and backstrips framed blocked and lettered in gilt and black black endpapers expertly rebacked with old backstrips laid down a remarkably bright clean copy. FIRST PUBLICATION OF HARDY'S EIGHTH NOVEL preceding the US edition of Harper's and the later three-decker. Harpers Monthly Magazine. European Edition. Vol. I: December 1880 - May 1881; Vol. II: June November 1991; Vol. III: December 1881 May 1882. One illustration was omitted from the US serial version. All illustrations were omitted and the sub-title added when the novel was published in book form 3 vols. 1881. COMPLETE SETS ARE SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION. See Purdy pp.37-38. Please note that additional postage will be required for shipping outside the UK. Sampson Low Marston Searle & Rivington, 1881-1882 hardcover
190751770Macmillan 1907-1927. 26 of 27 vols. sm. 8vo. each volume with title in red and black and full-page map at end a few volumes with neat contemporary signatures on front free endpapers; plum cloth upper boards blocked in gilt and tooled in blind gilt backs gilt tops a few backstrips dulled else all very good bright clean copies. THE POCKET EDITION WANTING ONLY THE FINAL VOLUME 'WINTER WORDS'. The works comprise: NOVELS: Desperate Remedies; Under the Greenwood Tree; A Pair of Blue Eyes; Far From the Madding Crowd; The Hand of Ethelberta; The Return of the Native; The Trumpet-Major; A Laodicean; Two on a Tower; The Mayor of Casterbridge; The Woodlanders; Tess of the d'Urbervilles; Jude the Obscure; The Well-Beloved. SHORT STORIES: Wessex Tales; A Group of Noble Dames; Life's Litle Ironies; A Changed Man. DRAMA: The Dynasts; The Queen of Cornwall. VERSE: Wessex Poems & Poems of the Past and Present; Time's Laughingstocks; Satires of Circumstance; Moments of Vision; Humas Shows Far Phantasies. Macmillan, hardcover
1878014657London: Smith Elder & Co 1878. Volume 1 & 2 only. Books measure 19.5x14.cm. vi 303ppvi 297pp 2pp booklist half titles present fronts map in volume 1. Bound in original publishers brown cloth with black and gilt tooling. Both volumes rubbed worn with some loss hinge joints split. Internally inscription library bookplate endpaper joints split pages slightly loose. Both volumes in good condition. If you have volume 3 in the same cloth binding I would be interesed in purchasing. F. Cloth. Good Plus. 8vo. Smith Elder & Co Hardcover
202144846Folio Society 2021. 8vo. First Edition thus with coloured frontispiece 16 coloured plates and vignettes in the text; pictorial grey boards blocked in green red morocco back lettered in white green laid endpapers green ribbon marker a fine copy in publisher's blocked board slip-case. EDITION LIMITED TO 750 NUMBERED COPIES SIGNED BY MACFARLANE AND DONWOOD THIS COPY NO. 91. Folio Society, hardcover
196851693Folio Society 1968-1994. 18 volumes 8vo. First Edition thus with frontispieces wood-engravings in the text and endpaper maps; cloth upper boards blocked with corn-dolly device gilt back coloured endpapers coloured tops a near fine set in publisher's slip-cases blocked in gilt. The set comprises: The Mayor of Casterbridge 1968; The Return of the Native 1971; Far From the Madding Crowd 1985; Wessex Tales 1987; Tess of the d'Urbervilles 1988; Under the Greenwood Tree 1989; The Trumpet Major 1990; The Woodlanders 1991; Jude the Obscure 1992; A Pair of Blue Eyes/The Well-Beloved/Two on a Tower 1992; boxed set as 'Romances and Fantasies'; Desperate Remedies/The Hand of Ethelberta/A Laodicean 1993; boxed set as 'Novels of Ingenuity'; A Changed Man/Life's Little Ironies/A Group of Noble Dames; boxed set as 'Short Stories'. Folio 60: 248 294 545 583 607 629 654 681 698.5 709 716 744 773 769.5 896 respectively. COMPLETE SETS OF FIRST PRINTINGS ARE SCARCE. Folio Society, hardcover
192843616Macmillan 1928. 8vo. First Collected Edition with endpaper maps; handsomely bound in dark red full crushed morocco sides with gilt frame border back with raised bands second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt all other compartments tooled in gilt gilt top hand-made endpapers ribbon marker a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. With 2pp. publisher's catalogue bound in at end. The endpaper maps are taken from the Wessex Edition. This is the first collected edition of Hardy's four collections of short stories: 'Wessex Tales' 'Life's Little Ironies' 'A Group of Noble Dames' and 'A Changed Man and other Tales'. It was published posthumously on 23 March 1928 at 7s. 6d. Purdy p.288 Macmillan, hardcover
190651745Macmillan 1906-1928. 20 vols. 8vo. each volume with title in red and black and full-page map at end; plum cloth upper boards blocked and lettered in gilt and tooled in blind gilt backs gilt tops a few volumes lightly rubbed else a very good bright clean set of this most attractive edition. The works comprise: NOVELS: Desperate Remedies; Under the Greenwood Tree; A Pair of Blue Eyes; Far From the Madding Crowd; The Hand of Ethelberta; The Return of the Native; The Trumpet-Major; A Laodicean; Two on a Tower; The Mayor of Casterbridge; The Woodlanders; Tess of the d'Urbervilles; Jude the Obscure; The Well-Beloved. SHORT STORIES: Wessex Tales; A Group of Noble Dames; Life's Litle Ironies; A Changed Man. DRAMAS: The Dynasts; The Queen of Cornwall. Macmillan, hardcover
189025541London: Spencer Blackett 1890. First edition and being the first of Hardy's short story "The Melancholy Hussar of The German Legion". 8vo bound in contemporary three-quarter blue morocco and marbled boards gilt lettered in two compartments of spine wide gilt decorated raised bands t.e.g. Now housed in a fine custom clamshell box backed in blue morocco and gilt lettered. 211pp. The textblock in fine state being clean and uncommonly fresh solid and free of spotting or toning completely the antique binding a bit rubbed at the joints but still firm and sound at the lower spine tip there is a roughly three-quarter in chip to the leather. THE FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM OF THOMAS HARDY'S SHORT STORY WHICH WOULD LATER APPEAR IN "LIFE'S LITTLE IRONIES." It is also the first edition of the works by John Campbell and Annie Hector Alexander. <br> 'The Melancholy Hussar' first appeared in the Bristol Times but this is the first appearance in book form. It is an uncommon item for the Hardy collector to acquire. Spencer Blackett hardcover
190651748Macmillan 1906-1928. 18 vols. 8vo. each volume with title in red and black and full-page map at end; plum cloth upper boards blocked and lettered in gilt and tooled in blind gilt backs gilt tops one ot two backstrips a little dulled else a very good bright clean set of this most attractive edition. The works comprise: NOVELS: Desperate Remedies; Under the Greenwood Tree; A Pair of Blue Eyes; Far From the Madding Crowd; The Hand of Ethelberta; The Return of the Native; The Trumpet-Major; A Laodicean; Two on a Tower; The Mayor of Casterbridge; The Woodlanders; Tess of the d'Urbervilles; Jude the Obscure; The Well-Beloved. SHORT STORIES: Wessex Tales; A Group of Noble Dames; Life's Litle Ironies; A Changed Man. Macmillan, hardcover
18738293Henry Holt New York 1873. 8vo. First US Edition Later Issue; original pictorial mustard cloth blocked and lettered in black backstrip lettered in gilt and black very neatly rebacked with old backstrip laid down original printed endpapers wholly preserved covers very lightly age-soiled but every detail of the blocking bright and clear corners very lightly bruised without material damage a remarkably bright clean copy. HARDY'S FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED IN THE US AND THE SECOND EDITION OF THE WORK OVERALL. Hardy's second novel 'Under the Greenwood Tree' was first published by Tinsley in 1872 one of the 'best press-noticed' books sold by that publisher. Under the terms of Tinsley's new agreement with Holt of New York it was then issued by the latter in their popular 'Leisure House' series in June 1873 the first of Hardy's works to be so issued in the US. His first novel 'Desperate Remedies' 1871 did not appear in the series until March 1874. From the series catalogue present on the front endpapers it is clear that this is a later issue at least 1881 since the list includes 'A Laodician'. Most volumes in the 'Leisure Hour' series were severally reissued with updated endpapers. This copy has been expertly rebacked. The original elaborately blocked backstrip is virtually complete with just a few millimetres missing at extreme head and tail. The original endpapers which carry a detailed catalogue of the 'Leisure Hour' series catalogue printed in red are all complete and virtually unmarked. The top edge is mildly dust-soiled but this does not extend to the text which also shows practically no trace of the usual foxing and spotting. A NOTABLE COPY AND A RARE SURVIVAL. See Purdy p.8 et seq. NCBEL III 981. Henry Holt, New York, hardcover
