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189643778Osgood McIlvaine 1896. 8vo. First Edition thus on laid paper with etched frontispiece and full-page map of Wessex in the text some very light and scattered spotting on endpapers only small neat contemporary signature on front free endpaper; original decorative green ribbed cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut small crease and indentation in backstrip else a very good bright clean copy. Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot; in this case 'Kings-Hintock Court in The First Countess of Wessex' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works; in the case of 'The Group of Noble Dames' plates of the original edition were used. See Purdy pp.279-282. ALL VOLUMES OF THIS SERIES ARE SCARCE ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION. Osgood McIlvaine, 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
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
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
189625920Osgood McIlvaine 1896. 8vo. First Edition thus on laid paper with an etched frontispiece and full-page map in the text small neat signatures on front free endpaper; original decorative ribbed cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut case a little shaken but binding entirely sound cloth rubbed from short length of upper board fore-edge backstrip lightly chafed without material loss at head and tail a very good bright copy of a scarce edition. Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' was the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised the topography names and distances corrected where necessary chapters frequently retitled and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' Purdy p.281. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'A View near the Scene of the 'Stancy Castle' of the story' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. All volumes of this series are scarce this title more than most. See Purdy pp 279-282. [Osgood McIlvaine, hardcover
189651483Osgood McIlvaine 1896. 8vo. First Edition thus on laid paper with etched frontispiece and full-page map of Wessex in the text small neat contemporary inscription on half-title; original decorative green ribbed cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut slight forward lean else a very good bright clean crisp copy. Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot; in this case 'The Castle Boterel of the Story' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works; in the case of 'The Group of Noble Dames' plates of the original edition were used. See Purdy pp.279-282. ALL VOLUMES OF THIS SERIES ARE SCARCE ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION. Osgood McIlvaine, hardcover
189650896Harpers 1896. 8vo. on laid paper with etched frontispiece and full-page map of Wessex in the text neat signature on front free endpaper; original decorative green ribbed cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut a very good bright clean crisp copy. 'Wessex Novels' 1895-6 published by Osgood McIlvaine UK and Harpers USA is the the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'Knapwater House' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. Sheets of the Osgood edition with an altered title-page were published in the USA by Harpers Osgood's successors. See Purdy pp.279-282. ALL VOLUMES OF THIS SERIES ARE SCARCE ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION. Harpers, hardcover
189950895Harpers 1899. 8vo. on laid paper with etched frontispiece and full-page map of Wessex in the text; original decorative green ribbed cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut a very good bright clean crisp copy. 'Wessex Novels' 1895-6 published by Osgood McIlvaine UK and Harpers USA is the the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'The Weatherbury of the Story' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. Sheets of the Osgood edition with an altered title-page were published in the USA by Harpers Osgood's successors. See Purdy pp.279-282. ALL VOLUMES OF THIS SERIES ARE SCARCE ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION. Harpers, hardcover
189649451Osgood McIlvaine 1896. 8vo. First Edition on laid paper with etched frontispiece original tissue guard present and full-page map in the text; original dark green ribbed cloth upper board with 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt gilt back gilt top uncut expertly recased a very good bright clean crisp copy. Published as Vol. VIII in Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works which had commenced publication the year before. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised the topography names and distances corrected where necessary chapters frequently retitled and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' Purdy p.281. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'The Christminster of the Story' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. See Purdy pp.86-91 281. [Osgood McIlvaine], 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
189631520London: Osgood McIlvaine and Company 1896. First Edition early state with partially black pages unnumbered in gatherings A B and C but numbered in E through H. With an etched illustration as frontispiece by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and at the end a map of Wessex. 8vo in the original dark green ribbed cloth lettered in gilt on spine and with the floral gilt T/H decorative monogram on the upper cover edges untrimmed t.e.g. viii 516 map. A good copy the text a bit mellowed primarily at the prelims and the binding a bit shaken the cloth is dark green as issued and without fading though the rear cover appears a bit blemished in an area next to the spinesome wear to tghe spine panel endleaves with some of the usual browning to which the title is prone. FIRST EDITION IN ORIGINAL CLOTH OF JUDE THE OBSCURE perhaps the most unbiased consideration in English fiction of the more complicated questions of sex.Hardy's knowledge of woman confirms him in a suspension of judgment; his knowledge of nature brings him nearer to the unchanging and consoling element in the world. His peasants have been compared with Shakespeare's; he has the Shakespearean sense of their placid existence with an unconscious wisdom in their close narrow and undistracted view of things. Osgood, McIlvaine and Company hardcover
1894RO60107224Bernhard Tauchnitz, Leipzig. 1894. In-16. Broché. Etat d'usage, Tâchée, Dos abîmé, Intérieur acceptable. 295 pages. Annotation sur le 1er plat (ex-libris). Cahiers se détachant.. . . . Classification Dewey : 420-Langue anglaise. Anglo-saxon
189642015Osgood McIlvaine 1896. 8vo. First Edition thus on laid paper with fine etched frontispiece original tissue guard present and full-page map endpapers mildly spotted; original series binding of ribbed green cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on front board gilt back gilt top uncut short crease in backstrip else a very good bright clean crisp copy. Published as Volume XIV in the 'Wessex Novels' collected edition. Collects eight short stories together with nine 'colloquial' sketches. 'With the exception of 'On The Western Circuit' the stories were only slightly revised for their appearance here. The volume was printed from the same plates as the first edition two years before' Purdy. Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised the topography names and distances corrected where necessary chapters frequently retitled and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' Purdy p.281. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene fom the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'A View in Melchester' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. ALL VOLUMES IN THIS SERIES ARE SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION. See Purdy pp.81-83 279-282. Osgood McIlvaine, hardcover
1894647Osgood McIlvaine 1894. 8vo. Second Edition on laid paper; decorative green cloth gilt covers tooled in gilt and red to an art-nouveau floral design by Charles Ricketts gilt back back very lightly faded else a remarkably bright clean copy. The binding is identical to that of the first edition published earlier in the same year. Purdy p.85. [Osgood, McIlvaine], hardcover
1897RO60070643Osgood, McIlvaine & Co.. 1897. In-8. Relié. Etat d'usage, Couv. légèrement passée, Dos abîmé, Intérieur frais. 337 pages. Gravure à l'eau-forte en noir et blanc en frontispice. Illustré d'une carte en noir et blanc hors texte en fin d'ouvrage. Titre et motif dorés sur le dos et le premier plat. Tranche de tête dorée. Annotations d'époque en page de garde (ex-libris).. . . . Classification Dewey : 420-Langue anglaise. Anglo-saxon
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
189347776Sampson Low Marston 1893. 8vo. free endpapers mildly browned; plum diced cloth upper board blocked in blind gilt back a remarkably bright clean copy. Bright copy of an early reissue. The novel was never reprinted in its original two-volume form. The first single-volume edition appeared in 1877 with six of the original illustrations but much of the edition was remaindered to Sampson Low in 1882. This is apparently the first single-volume without illustrations. SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION. See Purdy p.23. Sampson Low Marston, 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
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
189550894Harpers 1895. 8vo. First Edition thus on laid paper with etched frontispiece and full-page map of Wessex in the text endpapers lightly spotted; original decorative green ribbed cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut upper hinge cracked but binding entirely sound a very good bright clean crisp copy. 'Wessex Novels' 1895-6 published by Osgood McIlvaine UK and Harpers USA is the the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'Egdon Heath' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. Sheets of the Osgood edition with an altered title-page were published in the USA by Harpers Osgood's successors. See Purdy pp.279-282. ALL VOLUMES OF THIS SERIES ARE SCARCE ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION. Harpers, 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
189743855Osgood McIlvaine & Co. 1897. 8vo. First Edition thus on laid paper with etched frontispiece original tissue guard present and full-page map in the text endpapers lightly spotted; original series binding of decorative dark-green ribbed cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut a remarkably bright clean copy. With two relevant cuttings mounted on rear endpapers. Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised the topography names and distances corrected where necessary chapters frequently retitled and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' Purdy p.281; here the Preface is particularly important for its indication of sources. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'The Budmouth Harbour of the Story' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. ALL VOLUMES IN THIS SERIES ARE SCARCE ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION. See Purdy pp.35 281. [Osgood McIlvaine & Co.], hardcover
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
189721960Osgood McIlvaine 1897. 8vo. First Edition thus on laid paper with an etched frontispiece original tissue guard present and a full-page map in the text endpapers moderately spotted; original series binding of decorative dark-green ribbed cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut a remarkably bright clean copy. Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised the topography names and distances corrected where necessary chapters frequently retitled and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' Purdy p.281; here the Preface is particularly important for its indication of sources. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'The Budmouth Harbour of the Story' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. All volumes in this series are scarce especially in this condition. See Purdy pp.35 281. Osgood McIlvaine, hardcover
18979642Osgood McIlvaine 1897. 8vo. First Edition on laid paper with etched frontispiece original tissue guard present and double-page map in the text endpapers mildly age-marked neat signature on frontispiece recto; original series binding of decorative ribbed dark-green cloth gilt 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover gilt back gilt top uncut one or two small age-marks on covers else a bright firm copy. WIth the trade ticket of Blackwell's of Oxford on front paste-down and blind-stamp of Lyel of Hull on front free endpaper. Hardy's last novel and his final prose work beyond two or three short sketches written to fulfil engagements. See 'The Later Years p.60. Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised the topography names and distances corrected where necessary chapters frequently retitled and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' Purdy p.281. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot in this case 'The 'Isle' of the Story' and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. Although published by Hardy's subsequent publisher Macmillan the present volume was produced in matching format as 'Volume XVIII' to retain uniformity the last volume of Hardy's work to be so issued. Several of Hardy's subsequent works were published in matching format as here and allocated appropriate volume numbers. All volumes in this series are scarce especially in this condition. See Purdy pp.92-96 281. [Osgood McIlvaine], hardcover
