Hardy, Thomas

The Trumpet-Major, A Tale

Hardcover, London: Spottiswoode and Co. for Smith, Elder, & Co., 1880. 1st Edition. Fine.

First edition in book form. 3 volumes. Original red pictorial cloth, upper boards blocked in black with designs after Thomas Hardy, spines lettered and decorated in gilt and black, lower boards of vols. I and III blocked with double blind-ruled borders, vol. II with triple blind-ruled border, spines lightly faded, light rubbing to extremities, some light splitting on hinges and housed in a modern slipcase. A very attractive copy of one of the author's scarcest novels in original cloth. The Trumpet-Major was first published serially in Good Words, in the issues running from January to December 1880; Purdy notes that 'several chapters were retitled before the novel was published in book form, and a few scattered passages were deleted', and further quotes Hardy's recollections of demands for changes to the text for serial publication; 1,000 sets in late 1880. The bindings of vols. I and III of this set are Sadleir variant A (with spine imprint 'Smith · Elder & Co'), and vol. II is variant B with a triple-rule border on the lower board. Purdy pp.31-35; Sadleir 1115; Sterling 446.

Item #TH001       Price: $15,000.00