Tess Of The D'urbervilles. Hardy, Thomas.

First edition in book form, first issue with the requisite points. 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; Vol. III, p. 112, line 24, "are ye doing". As the triple-decker format was chiefly adopted for sale to lending libraries, copies retaining the original cloth in collectable condition are scarce. Purdy, pp. 67-78; Sadleir 1114; Webb, pp. 24-26; Wolff 2993. Three volumes, octavo. Original brown cloth, spines lettered in gilt, two-stem honeysuckle design by Charles Ricketts to front covers blocked in gilt, bottom edges untrimmed. Spines cocked and dulled, extremities rubbed, a few marks to cloth, inner hinges of vol. II cracked but holding. A very good copy.