Books

London: William Blackwood and Sons, the 'Library Edition', 1850-70s. Ten volumes in half crushed morocco leather by Ramage (with the binder's stamp to the front end papers) with marbled end papers and boards, gilt top edges, other page edges tanned and untrimmed. Evenly sun faded to the spines with gilt decoration and titles. Not dated, 'Library Edition' in pencil to the front of 2 volumes. Pagination: Adam Bede - vi, 550pp; Mill on The Floss - vii, [i], 568pp; Silas Marner Etc. - [ii], 363pp; Scenes from a Clerical Life - [ii], 451pp; Theophrastus Such Etc. - vi, 457pp; Felix Holt - 487pp; Romola - vii, 604pp; Daniel Deronda - [ii], 588pp; Middlemarch - [ii], 607pp; Spanish Gypsy - [ii], 463pp. Provenance: no inscriptions or bookplates. Approximately 8 � inches tall (21.5cm). Condition Report Externally Spine good condition gilt titles and decoration to the spine, all spines evenly and attractively faded to brown, minor marks and scratches. Joints good condition gently worn. Corners good condition gently bumped and worn. Boards good condition half leather with marbled paper covered boards, minor marks and scratches to the leather on a number of the volumes, some 'chipping' to the marbled paper edges. Page edges good condition top edges gilt, others tanned and untrimmed, a little darkened to the top edge. See above and photos. Internally Hinges good condition sound. Paste downs good condition marbled. End papers good condition marbled. Title good condition all title pages are slightly tanned. Pages good condition pages are slightly tanned. Binding good condition attractive, sound, and gently worn.

Published in 1859, 'Adam Bede' is the first novel by George Eliot. It was an immediate success and praised for its realistic and rustic depiction of 19th-century rural life.