A Group of Noble Dames
( H. MACBETH-RAEBURN, illus. ) ( THE WESSEX NOVELS ) HARDY, Thomas
With an Etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and a Map of Wessex. [Wessex Novels edition.]
BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN THE WESSEX NOVELS
Published: Osgood McIlvaine, [1896]
Stock code: 51971
Price: £160.00
8vo., First Edition thus, on laid paper, with fine etched frontispiece (original tissue guard present) and full-page map, personal name-stamp on front paste-down; original series binding of ribbed green cloth gilt, 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on front board, gilt back, gilt top, uncut, a near fine copy.
Published as Volume XV in the 'Wessex Novels' collected edition. 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 'King's-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. ALL VOLUMES IN THIS SERIES ARE SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION. See Purdy, pp.81-83, 279-282.