THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE: The Life And Death Of A Man Of Character. (2 volume set, complete)
London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1886. 1st edition. Cloth. 1st edition. 2 volume set, complete. A Good+ set. 8vo. {Vol.1] 313, (2); [Vol.2] 312, (5) pp. Bound in the publisher's blue cloth with title and decoration in black. Floral end papers. Moderate edge wear, particularly at the spines' crowns. Vol.1's front board a bit rubbed, with uneven sunning. Front joints just beginning to loosen. A very scarce set, in the original cloth. Good +. Item #24465
Part of Hardy's Wessex books, with Casterbridge taking Dorset's place. This first edition was of a very small run of 750 printed, the result of a reader from Smith and Elder not being impressed with the story, as it had a lack of gentry (Claire Tomalin, Thomas Hardy: The Time-torn Man, 2006). Considered to be one of Hardy's masterpieces.
Price: $5,000.00