Under the Greenwood Tree
( H. MACBETH-RAEBURN, illus. ) HARDY, Thomas
With an Etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and a Map of Wessex. [Vol. XVI of The Wessex Novels].
NEAR FINE COPY
Published: Osgood McIlvaine, [1896]
Stock code: 46824
Price: £168.00
8vo., First Edition thus, on laid paper, with etched frontispiece (original captioned guard present) and full-page map in the text, endpapers mildly browned; original series binding of dark green ribbed cloth, upper board blocked in gilt with 'TH' monogram, gilt back, gilt top, uncut, a near fine copy.
Published as Vol. XVI 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 Mellstock Church 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 EDITION ARE SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION. See Purdy, pp.86-91, 281.