Books

[London]: The Modern Press, 1886.. Large octavo (23.5 x 15 cm). Original printed wrapper. Wrapper slightly handsoiled, 3.5 cm loss at foot of spine, smaller loss at crown, short closed split to upper hinge from toe, otherwise a very good copy of this fragile book. Half morocco slipcase and chemise. First printing in book form of Shaw's first novel, printed from the corrected and revised stereos of it's serialization in the April 1885-March 1886 issues of TO-DAY. Booksellers objected that copies in this format were difficult to display, and consequently many copies, such as that in hand, were trimmed to accommodate their demands, in the course of which the original preliminary blank was transferred to the rear. With Shaw's slightly later inscription on the title-page: "This is the first reprint from the plates made from the pages of the magazine To-Day. The bookstalls would not stock it because it was not the right size for their counters. It did not take off until it got into the…