Tess of the d'Urbervilles.: A Pure Woman.

London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co.,, 1891. Did you say the stars were worlds, Tess? First edition in book form, first issue with the requisite points. The elegant design of the title-page layout, one of the first examples of the 1890s art nouveau book, was the work of Charles Ricketts. Tess of the d'Urbervilles was originally published as a serial in the Graphic from July to December 1891, with two episodes - the seduction of Tess by Alec d'Urberville and the baptism and death of Tess's baby - removed by the editor. "This temporary dismemberment of the novel necessitated changes in plot, such as the introduction of a mock marriage and the omission of the encounter with the painter of texts, and there were numerous scattered bowdlerizations and omissions. When the novel was published in book form the original text was, of course, restored, and Hardy was able to piece the trunk and limbs of the novel together, as originally written'" (Purdy). Printed in the week of 29 November 1891 in an edition of 1,000 copies, Tess proved an immediate success and a second issue of 500 copies was published in February the following year; in addition to the dates (1891) on the verso of the title pages, the first issue can be distinguished by a number of textual points, including: vol. I, p. [v], line 12, "have it said"; vol. II, p. 58, line 4, "Valasquez"; p. 155, line 21, "seampstress"; p.199, "Chapter XXV" for "XXXV"; and vol. III, p. 112, line 24, "are ye doing". Provenance: with the attractively designed bookplate of William Henry Radcliffe Saunders (1857-1905), a major in the East Surrey Regiment and member of the Bookplate Society; his bookplate, dated 1904, was engraved by Graham Johnston (fl. 1890), the preeminent Scottish designer and bookplate engraver. The book was later in the library of Edward Hubert Litchfield (1879-1949), a noted American collector. Three volumes, octavo (187 x 125 mm). Near-contemporary blue half-morocco by Hatchards, spines with raised bands, compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, blue cloth sides ruled in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, blue silk bookmarkers. Bound with half-titles. A touch of wear to corners, small faint marks to lower margin of a few leaves in vol. II, contents generally clean. A very good set, presenting attractively. Purdy, pp. 67-78; Sadleir 1114; Webb, pp. 24-6; Wolff 2993.