SELECT POEMS OF WILLIAM BARNES.
Chosen and Edited with a Preface and Glossarial Notes by Thomas Hardy. London: Henry Frowde, 1908. Original dark green flexible cloth decorated in gilt.
First Edition, first (1908 Frowde) printing, which consisted of 2,000 copies. Hardy reluctantly agreed to choose, edit, and write a Preface for this selection of verse by this Dorsetshire poet, who had died in 1886; the publisher's plea was that Hardy was the only literary person who "knew the dialect as Barnes knew it," and thus could translate the Dorset dialect (for which Hardy here provides "glossarial notes").
This copy is in the primary binding (with gilt decoration on the cloth and with gilt top edge), and is in fine, bright condition -- still with the red silk ribbon attached. The front free endpaper bears an appropriate but curious gift inscription dated August 26, 1908 in Lyme Regis, Dorset: it is curious because Purdy gives the publication date as November 24th of that year. Purdy pp 135-137. Item #14916
Price: $125.00