Tess of The D'Urbevilles

Only 1000 copies were printed in the week beginning, 29th November, 1891 of this first impression of Tess of the d'Urbervilles and as was the case with many Victorian novels, most copies went to the lending libraries of the period. This set bears no sign of any library labels to the covers, thus it is one of the few examples to remain in its original state.

*The following first impression points are present: 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; Vol. III, p. 112, line 24, are ye doing

'It was subtitled A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented because Hardy felt that its heroine was a virtuous victim of a rigid Victorian moral code. Now considered Hardy's masterwork, it departed from conventional Victorian fiction in its focus on the rural lower-class and in its open treatment of sexuality and religion' (Britannica).

First edition,*first impression, the first publication in its entirety (an abridged version was published serially in the Graphic July-December 1891; 3 vols, 8vo (200 x 140 mm); all three title-pages are dated 1891 on the verso, very mild age-toning, the occasional light, marginal finger-soiling or spot; vol. I, tiny chip to fore-edge of 'Contents' page, quires at pp 48 and 176 split but firm, small marginal brown mark to upper margin of p. 92 and a few minor spots to bottom margins of 174 & 175, none affecting text; vol. II, split quire at pp160, 192, 208 & 224 but firm, two small areas of soiling to fore-edge of p.161, not affecting text; vol. III, split quires at pp 32, 80 &145, but firm, publisher's tan cloth gilt, upper covers blocked in gilt with two vertical wavy lines of honeysuckle and gold discs designed by Charles Ricketts, lightly soiled, mottling to endpapers,inner hinge split to upper board of vol. I, light stain to upper board of vol. III, slight shelt-lean to all three vols, otherwise a very good-plus 'unsophisticated' set (unrestored).

Purdey pp 67-78; Wolff 2993; Sadleir 1114.