JUDE THE OBSCURE.
With an Etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and a Map of Wessex. (London:) James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., (1896 [vere 1895]). Original dark blue-green cloth with monogram device in gilt. First Edition of Hardy's last great novel, issued as Vol. VIII of "The Wessex Novels." Titled HEARTS INSURGENT at the time of its serial appearance, the book was ahead of its time; the depiction of Jude and his cousin Sue settling down together and having two children (though unmarried) -- not to mention the subsequent murders -- was too much for the 1890s public. After JUDE (and due in part to the outcry over it), Hardy was to spend his remaining 30+ years writing only verse.
In this copy, the last pages of chapters are numbered in gatherings "A" through "H" excepting "D" (such pages are never numbered in gatherings "I" onward). In most copies, as here, some but not all of the first eight gatherings have numbered last-pages, presumably before sheets were gradually altered to conform to the latter part of the book; in other words, except for pages [57] and [64] (in gathering "D") being un-numbered, this copy is the earliest possible state.
This copy is bright and near-fine, with slightly bumped fore-corners and a deftly-repaired snag at the top of the spine. Purdy pp 86-91. Item #15936
Price: $395.00