Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co,, 1898. Why didn't you tell me there was danger? First edition in book form, first issue with the requisite points, and marking the first appearance of the unexpurgated text. Tess is "the most eloquently written of the novels, and the one in which the natural world and the topography itself - the landscapes Tess so doggedly traverses - are most continuously and richly represented" (ODNB). Tess of the d'Urbervilles was originally published as a serial in the Graphic from July to December 1891, with two episodes - the seduction of Tess by Alec d'Urberville and the baptism and death of Tess's baby - removed by the editor. "This temporary dismemberment of the novel necessitated changes in plot, such as the introduction of a mock marriage and the omission of the encounter with the painter of texts, and there were numerous scattered bowdlerizations and omissions. When the novel was published in book form the original text was, of course, restored, and Hardy was able to piece the trunk and limbs of the novel together, as originally written'" (Purdy). The elegant design of the title-page layout, one of the first examples of the 1890s art nouveau book, was the work of Charles Ricketts. Printed in the week of 29 November 1891 in an edition of 1,000 copies, Tess proved an immediate success and a second issue of 500 copies was published in February the following year; in addition to the dates (1891) on the verso of the title pages, the first issue can be distinguished by a number of textual points, including: vol. I, p. [v], line 12, "have it said"; vol. II, p. 58, line 4, "Valasquez"; p. 155, line 21, "seampstress"; p.199, "Chapter XXV" for "XXXV"; and vol. III, p. 112, line 24, "are ye doing". Three volumes, octavo (192 x 123 mm). Recent green half calf to style, spines tooled in blind with red morocco labels, marbled sides, brown endpapers. Complete with half-titles. Contents with scattered light finger-soiling, a few minor nicks and creased page corners; an excellent copy. Purdy pp. 67-78; Sadleir 1114; Webb pp. 24-26; Wolff 2993.