Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1865. Original pinkish-brown wrappers. First Edition of this wartime story that had first appeared in the Atlantic Monthly in 1863, and would later be collected in Hale's book IF, YES, AND PERHAPS (1868). "Written to inspire patriotism during the Civil War, it was suggested by the... More

[a lengthy literary letter] One leaf folded, on mourning stationery headed "Max Gate, Dorchester." Four pages of text, addressed to "My Dear Mrs Ward," signed "Yours sincerely, Thomas Hardy," and dated 24 March 1905. This long letter is Hardy's response to his receipt, from Mrs. Humphry Ward, of a copy... More

Concluding with The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid. New York and London: Harper & Brothers, (1913). Original dark green cloth with monogram device in gilt. First (American) Edition, published simultaneously with the English one. To quote from Hardy's prefatory note, this is a collection of "for what they may be... More

A Novel. With an Etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and a Map of Wessex. (London and New York: Harper & Brothers, 1898.) Original dark green cloth with monogram device in gilt. "Wessex Novels" edition, American issue. DESPERATE REMEDIES was Hardy's first novel, first published in 1871 in three volumes; here it... More

(London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine, and Co., 1891.) Original light brown cloth decorated in gilt. First Edition of this loosely-connected collection of ten stories of "dames," published just before TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES. One of them, "Barbara of the House of Grebe," is considered to represent Hardy at his most... More

With an Etching by H. Macbeth-­Raeburn and a Map of Wessex. (London:) James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., (1896). 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... More

A Set of Tales. With Some Colloquial Sketches entitled A Few Crusted Characters. (London: Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1894.) Original olive green cloth decorated in brown. First Edition. This collection (eight tales plus nine "crusted characters," most of which were written in 1890-1891) was published a few years after TESS... More

New York: Norman L. Munro, n.d. [July 16, 1883]. Original printed terra-cotta wrappers. A very early, but not quite first, edition of this "short hastily written novel" [Hardy himself]. It constituted his first contribution to the Graphic in England -- as the Summer Number for 1883; it was also arranged... More

A Novel. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1882. Undated endpaper ads. Original mustard yellow cloth decorated in black. First American Edition, issued as No. 142 in Holt's "Leisure Hour Series." This is Hardy's tale about a young astronomer and an older woman of superior wealth and rank, brought together... More

London: (first 17 volumes) Osgood, McIlvaine & Co.; (18th volume) Macmillan and Co., 1895-1913. Plus: WESSEX POEMS and Other Verses. With Thirty Illustrations by the Author. London: Harper & Brothers, 1898. [Together, 19 volumes.] Original dark blue-green cloth with front cover monogram device in gilt. First Uniform and Complete Edition... More

In Three Volumes. London: Macmillan and Co., 1887. Original dark green cloth. First Edition of this novel involving a faithful suitor, a flashy rival, and a heroine who makes a fatal choice -- reminiscent of FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD a decade earlier, which in fact was when Hardy first... More

of Popular Literature, Science, and Art. Fourth Series | No. 64. [London & Edinburgh:] William and Robert Chambers, March 18, 1865. Original self-wrappers, lightly bound into a later medium-brown printed folder. First Appearance of Thomas Hardy's first published piece of work, appearing anonymously. The three-page sketch is a rather amusing... More

Illustrated by E. Boyd Smith. Westminster: Archibald Constable & Co., 1899. Original olive green cloth pictorially decorated in black and red. First Edition, English issue, of this collection of fourteen tales -- including a few about Brer Rabbit and friends. This is a children's story book in the same general... More