Books

New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1878. First US Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. 10mo, 465 pages. In Fair condition. Bound in tan cloth with black text and stamped illustrations on spine and front cover. Boards have creasing to spine, spine edges chipped off and fraying, rubbing to corners exposing boards, tearing to joints, and slight cocking to spine. Text block has front endpaper missing, light tearing to front pastedown, mild foxing to forward pages, and light tearing to rear endpaper and pastedown. Ads on endpapers/pastedowns dated December 10, 1878. Purdy 27. Shelved in Case 13. 1371211. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.

The Return of the Native is one of Thomas Hardy's novels of character and environment, first published as a serial in the magazine Belgravia, a publication known for its sensationalism, and was presented in twelve monthly installments from January to December 1878. The novel follows the lives of people in the fictional Egdon Heath, a symbol of Hardy's vision of nature and human passions.

Identifying a first edition of 'The Return of the Native' involves checking the publisher and ensuring it is Smith, Elder & Co., looking for the date 1878, and confirming it was published in three volumes.