The History of Tom Jones,; A Foundling. In Six Volumes.
London: A. Millar, 1749. Second Edition. Six vols., 12mos, lxiii, 214, 324, 370, 312, 294, 304pp; full red crushed morocco gilt with five raised bands on spines, gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, a.e.g. Faint ownership signatures that appear to have faded when the pages weree washed for rebinding; expert repair to the corners of last 10pp in Vol. VI; a small dampstain affecting the lower corners in the first portion of Vol. 3; covers bright, fresh and without wear. Item #205897
The first printing of Fielding's great novel was 2000 copies and those were almost immediately sold out before publication, prompting this second edition, which comprised 1500 copies. Those too were quickly sold out. In fact, Tom Jones soon sold over 10,000 copies, becoming the first "bestseller" and it has been continuously in print ever since. For the second edition, errors were corrected from the first, prompting removal of the errata leaf and the expansion of the table of contents. One of the great masterpieces of English literature, in a handsome, though unsigned, binding in the manner of Riviere.
Price: $1,750.00