Description

HARDY’S OWN FAVORITE: RARE FIRST ISSUE OF THE WOODLANDERS, INSCRIBED BY HIM TO EMILY CHARLOTTE MEYNELL-INGRAM

HARDY, Thomas. The Woodlanders. London and New York: Macmillan, 1887. Three volumes. Octavo, original green cloth gilt, black-ruled covers, uncut. 

First edition, first issue of Hardy’s personal favorite of his own works, a scarce triple-decker in original cloth. This copy inscribed by Hardy on the half title of Volume I, “To the Hon. Mrs Meynell Ingram, from the author (in remembrance of a pleasant evening.)”

Published between The Mayor of Casterbridge and Tess of the D’Urbervilles, this Sophoclean tragedy was the one Hardy considered the best of all his works “as a story” (Farrow, 27). “The tenderest of Hardy’s stories, thrilling in its narrative power and memorable both for the nobility of its two central figures and for its exquisitely observed scenes and custsoms of the woodland folk” (Baugh et al., 1467). First issue, with dark green buckram-grain cloth and inner frame with rounded corners. Purdy, 54-57. Webb, 21. This presentation copy inscribed by Hardy to Emily Charlotte Meynell Ingram, wife of politician Hugo Meynell Ingram. Large armorial bookplates of Francis Hugo Lindley Meynell.

Small marginal paper repair to page 146, Volume I, short marginal closed tear to lower edge of Volume III title page. Cloth fresh and lovely, spine gilt quite bright. A beautiful presentation copy in very nearly fine condition.