Books

London: Smith, Elder, & Co, 1878. First edition, first issue, with the closed quotation mark around ‘A Pair of Blue Eyes’ dropped on the title page in volume I.. Frontispiece map by Hardy of the scene of the story in Volume I. [vi], 303; [vi], 297, [3]; [vi], 320 pp. 3 vols. 8vo. Bound in forest green half morocco backed marble boards with gilt ruling, gilt titles on five-banded spine, and t.e.g. Marble endpapers with handsome bookplate of heiress Gustavia Senff on upper pastedowns, a little bumping on upper corners, else near fine. First edition, first issue, with the closed quotation mark around ‘A Pair of Blue Eyes’ dropped on the title page in volume I. Frontispiece map by Hardy of the scene of the story in Volume I. [vi], 303; [vi], 297, [3]; [vi], 320 pp. 3 vols. 8vo. The Return of the Native was first published serially in Belgravia from January to December 1878. The first edition in book form of 1,000 copies incorporated several new chapter titles as well as other…

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.