Books

Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1858. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. Octavo, 2 volumes, 366pp., 381pp. Without half-titles. A very good set, very bright and clean internally. Bound in contemporary 3/4 red polished calf over marbled boards, with marbled endpapers and all edges marbled. Corners and outer joints rubbed and a bit dry, and outer joint of volume II with a very thin partial crack; still sound. One of the morocco spine labels on volume I has partial loss, the same on volume II is perished; both gilt-stamped title labels are present and bright. Upon close inspection, there is bookplate removal to a front blank in each volume, though this is not offensive. Despits its evident flaws, a sound, internally clean example of Eliot's first book.

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.