Books

Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1858. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. VG, 1st ed, 1858. The Authors rarest book, especially in the original cloth, as is this. 2 Vols, maroon embossed cloth by Edmonds & Remnants, light wear along front edges, corners bumped. Spines, faded slightly, frayed along edges, some loss. Internally, Vol 1, 1858, half title, [6], [3], 4-366 pp. Vol 2, 1858, half title, [6], [1], 2-381 pp. Bookplates to fpds (Alfred Gilbey), ink ownership signature to feps (Mrs WP Goode), maroon endpapers, small bookbinder label to ep of V1, occasional light spotting & edge browning, short margin crease to V1, X5/X5. 1050 copies printed 5 January 1858, then later a further 650 copies printed for subscription. Housed in a modern up-and-over half maroon morocco over marbled boards, gilt tooling & titles.(Folios, 124*199 & 124*200 mm). (Sadleir 818. Wolff 2062. Baker & Ross A3.2B). These 3 stories were published,…

Scenes of Clerical Life is the title under which George Eliot's first published works of fiction appeared in 1858, consisting of three novellas based on the lives of different clergymen. Originally published anonymously, these stories mark Eliot's debut into the world of literature.

Consult a reference guide for William Blackwood and Sons first editions, check for print details signifying it is a first print. George Eliot's work would not have had a large first run, typically noted by higher quality paper and binding for the time.