This is a near-fine copy (endpapers cracking but the volume is tight, a few faint droplet-marks on the rear cover). Wise ALT 87.

In any event, this is a remarkably fine, bright set (with a half-title in Vol I only, which is proper for this title), with very slight rubbing at the extremities. Although PHILIP is one of the few Victorian three-deckers that does turn up from time to time in this condition, such copies seem to be getting scarcer. Sadleir 3186 (ii); Wolff 6690 (blue cloth); Carter BV pp 158-159. Housed in an open-backed case.

This copy has an October 1852 ad catalogue in Vol III; some copies have a catalogue in Vol II as well, and some have ads printed on the endpapers (this copy's are plain -- no known priority). This set is in very good condition: the labels are browned and slightly edge-worn, and a few gatherings of leaves stand a bit proud. HENRY ESMOND is today exceedingly difficult to find in decent shape in its original binding, due to its use of an earlier binding style. Van Duzer 85 (rebound); Sadleir 3187 (rebound, no ads); Wolff 6692 (original cloth with Oct 1852 ads, as here). Housed in a morocco-backed slipcase with three chemises.

This is an inscribed presentation copy from Trollope, with this inscription in Trollope's hand at the top of the title page: "His Eminence Cardinal Manning | with the author's regards". On the title page there is an inkstamp, and on the front pastedown a bookplate, "Ex Oblatorum S Caroli... Bibliotheca" and bearing the word "humilitas." This was the Oblates of St. Charles, centered at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Bayswater (whose motto is "humilitas"). Quoting from the Manning papers at Emory University,

Henry Edward Manning (1808-1892) was one of the most influential English Roman Catholic figures of his time. From his ordination in the Church of England in 1832, through his conversion to Catholicism in 1851, and to his death in 1892, his words and actions were powerful influences in England and in the Roman Catholic Church...

In December 1838, Manning and [William] Gladstone visited Rome, where they met with Nicholas Wiseman (later Cardinal and Archbishop at Westminster) at the Vatican's English College...

When [John Henry] Newman converted to Catholicism in 1845, Manning became one of the acknowledged leaders of the High Church Movement... In the Spring of 1847, Manning made an extended trip to the Continent... While in Rome he met with Newman and had two audiences with Pope Pius IX. The trip left him favorably impressed with the vitality of the Roman Catholic Church in Europe.

On his return to England, Manning found the Anglican Church in disarray and deeply divided...

Quoting further from the History of St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church,

[Following Manning's conversion,] in 1851 Cardinal Wiseman sent his most prestigious convert, Henry Edward Manning, to Bayswater to found a community whose mission would be to revitalize the clergy and faithful in the new diocese of Westminster. Manning drew his inspiration from St Charles Borromeo, who had founded an order of Oblate priests to renew the diocese of Milan in the sixteenth century. Manning founded the Oblates of St Charles at Bayswater, and had considerable success in evangelizing northwest London. In 1865, Manning was made second Archbishop of Westminster, and later Cardinal...

As for Trollope, he was raised as a High Church Anglican; he became a mild supporter of the Oxford Movement, and "his experiences in Ireland brought him into a closer sympathy with the Roman Catholic Church. However, he was hardly ready to follow Newman to Rome!" [Niles]. Robert H. Taylor, in "Letters to Trollope" (The Trollopian, Sept. 1946), noted that after Trollope's death (three years after inscribing this book), a leather portfolio was found, containing the thirty letters he had received over the years that he treasured the most; one of Trollope's most-treasured letters was the one from Cardinal Manning thanking him for the gift of this very book.

This is a very good-plus set with little wear other than bumped corners; the endpapers are slightly cracked and have been expertly repaired, and there is some foxing on the first few leaves of each volume. THE VIRGINIANS is fairly common in the original wrappered parts, and rebound into two half-leather volumes, but it remains rather uncommon in the original cloth. See Van Duzer p. 141. Housed in an open backed slipcase.

This is a bright, very good-plus copy (very slight wear at the spine ends, minor cracking of the front endpaper). Borst A8.1.a; Blanck 20123.

This is a very good-plus, bright copy (quite minor wear at the head of the spine). Borst A9.1.a.; Blanck 20127.

This is a near-fine copy (a tiny bit of wear at the foot of the spine, rusted staples showing through at the gutter opposite the title page); the dark green cloth remains quite clean, and the binding gilt remains bright. Borst A10.1.a; Blanck 20129. With the bookplate of the noted collector, dealer and all-around bibliphile Arthur Swann, whose collection formed a major auction sale of 1960.