Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy - 1892 1st single-volume edition HB

Description: TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES by THOMAS HARDY Published by James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., London 1892 Commonly known as the Fifth Edition of Hardy's famous tale about the life, loves and tribulations of Tess Durbeyfield. It is the first single-volume edition of the novel which followed quickly upon the first edition of 1891 and further subsequent impressions of the triple decker publication during 1892. The first impression of the fifth edition was published in September 1892. This example is in a poor condition, but likely still a collectable volume. Vintage, pre-owned. No dust jacket. In original publisher's tan cloth with floral design. The boards are poor - the spine almost fully detached, but at the moment still held by a thread and a sliver of cloth at the spine head. Loss at the spine head and tail and split at the tail; with vertical creasing. Stain at the upper spine. Boards are rubbed and darkened; the gilt of the ruled lines and decoration faded; some bubbling of the cloth and some light staining - probably from damp. Corners are bumped with cloth fraying. Inked name plus figures in small writing on the front paste down - some scuffed remnants - perhaps a label has been removed. Hinge at the front end papers is partially split with the webbing exposed, and it seems the front free end paper has been carefully removed. Perhaps this was originally a library copy, though I have not noticed any stamps or other library markings. There is a taped repair the full length of the hinge between a free end paper and the half-title, on the verso of which a newspaper cutting containing a portrait of the very aged Hardy has been glued in, much of this now separated from the page it was stuck down on and leaving a rather damaged half title with some loss of paper. Scuffed remnants of this cutting are also present on the verso of the frontispiece which follows. This portrait of Hardy with facsimile signature is still in quite good condition but with scuffed wear at the hinge. At the rear of the book the hinge at the final page of text is almost fully cracked and very fragile with the end matter and board held in place by an inch of the webbing. Surprisingly the rest of the block is still tolerably good and there seem to be no loose pages, though hinges are weakening and there are some splits. Some edge wear to pages - chips, small tears; and occasional marks and age-related stains. But the pages are largely clean. A rather dilapidated volume overall, but this is Hardy, and Tess, and of some collectable value. pp 519, book measures approx. 8 x 5 ins UK return accepted if book returned in same condition as received within 30 days of receipt. Return postage not refunded.

Price: 6.99 GBP

Location: Wantage, Oxfordshire

End Time: 2024-09-21T15:23:28.000Z

Shipping Cost: 28.33 GBP