Display Signed Copies Only Display All Inventory on Abebooks

Available Copies from Independent Booksellers

Henry Fielding. A True State of the Case of Bosavern Penlez. A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$498.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: A modern rebind in attractive quarter leather and marbled boards Slight wear on spine ends Penlez was involved in a drunken riot, starting in a brothel where he stole sheets and for this crime he was hanged In this pamphlet, issued a month after the event, Fielding argues that he was justly executed Henry Fielding (1707-1754) was an English novelist, irony writer and dramatist known for earthy humour and satire His comic novel Tom Jones is still widely appreciated He and Samuel Richardson are seen as founders of the traditional English novel He also holds a place in the history of law enforcement, having used his authority as a magistrate to found the Bow Street Runners, London's first intermittently funded, full-time police force 54 pp.

Seller: Stanley Louis Remarkable Books, Saint Charles, IL, U.S.A.

Fielding, Henry. A Charge Delivered to the Grand Jury, At the Sessions of the Peace.. , 1749.

Price: US$1250.00 + shipping

Description: Fielding's Famous Grand Jury Charge, "A Masterly and Assured Model of its Kind" Fielding, Henry [1707-1754]. A Charge Delivered to the Grand Jury, At the Sessions of the Peace Held for the City and Liberty of Westminster, &c. On Thursday the 29th of June, 1749. By Henry Fielding, Esq; Chairman of the Said Sessions. Published by Order of the Court, And at the Unanimous Request of the Gentlemen of the Grand Jury. London: Printed for A. Millar, 1749. [iii], 8-64 pp. Complete. Octavo (7-3/4" x 4-3/4"). Stab-stitched pamphlet bound in recent three-quarter calf over marbled boards, blind rules to calf edges, gilt fillets and title to spine. Light toning to interior, light foxing and soiling in a few places, light browning to first leaf, small dampstain to text block of first two leaves without loss to legibility, small holes to bottom margin of last two leaves not affecting text. $1,250. * Only London edition. Grand jury charges, long considered a duty for justices of the peace, could be a useful vehicle for the speaker's social, moral and political vision for society. Fielding's charge, considered "a masterly and assured model of its kind," discusses the history and importance of grand juries in the English system along with their role in addressing the nation's legal and social problems (Zirker). "[C]onfident and dignified in tone, precise in application, rich in legal allusion, and thoroughly at ease with the perspective of judicial tradition," the charge cites Coke, Bracton, Hale and Hawkins, among others. An important writer, magistrate and social reformer, Fielding served as London's Chief Metropolitan Police Magistrate from 1748 until his death and was nominated chairman of the Quarter Sessions in 1749. OCLC locates 1 copy of this imprint in a North American law library (San Francisco Law Library). The ESTC adds a copy at Harvard Law School. Zirker, ed., Henry Fielding: An Enquiry into the Causes of the Late Increase of Robbers and Related Writings xxviii. English Short-Title Catalogue (ESTC) T90231.

Seller: The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., ABAA ILAB, Clark, NJ, U.S.A.

Henry Fielding. The History of Tom Jones. A. Millar [1749] 1750, London, 1749.

Price: US$1267.66 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: The uncommon fourth edition of Henry Fielding's comic novel, The History of Tom Jones. ESTC Citation Number N17090. Duodecimo. The fourth edition of the work, printed by Millar in September 1749 and published on the 11th December 1749 with title page dated 1750. Endpapers and blanks have been renewed. Rebacked with contemporary boards preserved. 'Tom Jones' is a comic work, regarded as both a Bildungsroman and picaresque. It is one of the earliest works to be regarded as a novel and is often cited as one of the works that influenced the rise of the novel as a genre. Henry Fielding was an eighteenth century English novelist best known for his earthy humour and satire. Alongside Samuel Richardson, he is considered one of the founding fathers of traditional English novels. In full calf. Rebacked. Externally very smart with slight bumping to the extremities and the odd mark to the boards. Endpapers and blanks renewed. Internally firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Contemporary ink inscription to title page of all volumes. Very Good

Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$1500.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: 6 volumes in modern calf backed marbled boards with added endpapers - attractively rebound. The Second Edition, the same year as the first (the first was oversubscribed - what publishers now refer to as second printing before publication) with the errors corrected. Scattered foxing, a few minor stains, the title for volume 3 a little grubby and trimmed - a clean, attractive set overall. Along with Tristram Shandy, Humphrey Clinker and Pamela, a foundation of the English novel (and only the epistolary novel Pamela, roundly mocked by Fielding with his Shamela in 1741, was published first). Size: Octavo (8vo). Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: 1-2 kilos. Category: Literature & Literary; Antiquarian & Rare. Inventory No: 044429.

Seller: Pazzo Books, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones,; A Foundling. In Six Volumes. A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$1750.00 + shipping

Description: 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. 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. 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.

Seller: Locus Solus Rare Books (ABAA, ILAB), Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

FIELDING, Henry.. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. In six Volumes. London: Printed for A. Millar 1749., 1749.

Price: US$1755.23 + shipping

Description: 6 vols, 12mo; a very good, crisp copy in contemporary mottled calf, rather dry, spines rubbed, joints cracking but sound.Second edition, although not so designated, the errata corrected and the errata leaf in volumeI omitted (the 'Contents' extended to c8 recto to fill the gap). The first edition (2000 copies) was almost completely subscribed before publication when this second edition (1500 copies) was ordered. Both editions were in circulation on 28 February, the date of publication.Cross III, pp. 316-7. Language: English

Seller: Bernard Quaritch Ltd ABA ILAB, London, United Kingdom

Fielding, Henry. THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING [Four Volumes]. A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$1800.00 + shipping

Description: 16mo., Four Volumes. In Very Good condition. Bound in full polished calf with two gilt-lettered labels to embossed spine. Boards show minimal edge and corner-wear (most pronounced at the heads and tails of the spines on all four volumes). Former owner's inscription appears on title pages of Vols. I, III and IV: "Wm. Gregson". CONTENTS: Vol. I. [Books 1 - 5] (xx, 304 pages) (Thin cracks along hinges. Text block has substantial foxing and age-toning and small notes in pencil on the back free end paper and page 304.) -- Vol. II. [Books 6 - 9] (viii, 330 pages) -- Vol. III. Books [10 - 13] (x, 288 pages) -- Vol. IV. [Books 14 - 18] (xii, 347 pages) (Chipping at head of spine however binding remains firm and intact, thin cracks along hinges). CX Consignment. Shelved in Case 2. 1346021. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.

Seller: Second Story Books, ABAA, Rockville, MD, U.S.A.

[FIELDING, Sarah]. The Governess; or The Little Female Academy Calculated for the Entertainment and Instruction of young ladies in their education. By the Author of David Simple. London: Printed for A. Millar 1749, 1749.

Price: US$1950.25 + shipping

Description: Second edition, revised and corrected. 12mo. 155x90mm. pp. x, 146. Contemporary calf, spine with four raised bands, compartments decorated in gilt, second compartment with red morocco label lettered in gilt. Corners slightly bumped, small hole to joint at foot of spine, a few marks to covers. Small tear to margin of B2 not affecting text. Slightly cropped (when the book was bound) but text unaffected. Otherwise, internally very good. Front free endpaper has ownership inscription of Miss R. Assheton in a beautiful copperplate hand. A nice copy of a scarce book, this revised second edition, intended "for the use of schools" appearing in the same year as the first. The Governess is a collection of stories all taking place in a school run by the nominatively determined Miss Teachum. The British Library describes it as "perhaps the first school story" and it is important in being one of the earliest fictional works for children, earlier books for the young tending towards the instructional rather than the entertaining. That said, the author's preface indicates that the "design of the following sheets is to endeavour to cultivate an early Inclination to Benevolence, and a Love of Virtue, in the Minds of Young Women". Sarah Fielding (she writes anonymously) was the sister of Henry Fielding. In addition to The Governess, she wrote three novels and works of history, all of which display an interest in women's social issues. She also wrote a study of Samuel Richardson's Clarissa. Richardson was Sarah's mentor and rated her highly, claiming that she was a better writer than her brother. And, although genteelly educated, she was widely regarded as a better classicist than the expensively schooled Henry. ESTC records only three copies of this edition in the UK (and the same again of the first) with six in the US (where there are eleven copies of the first). Only six copies of the two 1749 editions have appeared at auction in the last eighty years. ESTC: T473

Seller: Voewood Rare Books. ABA. ILAB., Holt, United Kingdom

FIELDING, Henry. THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING in a Charles Lewis binding. A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$3750.00 + shipping

Description: Six volumes bound in early full paneled calf leather with gilt-decorated boards and elaborately gilt-decorated spines with contrasting morocco spine labels: lxiii, [i], 214; [2] 324; [2] 370; [2] 312; [2] 294; [2] 304 pages. Binding with the small leather label on the front pastedown of Charles Lewis, one of the best bookbinders of the early 19th century and employer of Francis Bedford, who took over Lewis's shop after his death. Considered to be the first true novel in English. Second edition, printed from reset type of the first edition, correcting a number of minor mistakes. Cross III, pages 316-317. Often mistakenly referred to as the second issue of the first edition. Probably printed on 13 April 1749, the first edition having been printed only about a month prior, with the errata corrected and the table of contents for all six volumes preceding the text in the first volume. Both editions were in circulation on the date of publication. Cross describes the need for this edition so soon after the first: "Immediate revision was rendered imperative on account of the numerous errors that crept into the text owing to the haste with which the novel had been at last put through the press. Type and paper are the same and the paging is kept uniform with the edition having the errata. The table of contents is re-spaced so as to extend into the page formerly given to the errata. Scores of individual pages differ either in the number of lines or in the last words and phrases." Light, scattered foxing. Rubbing to joints, covers firm. Near Fine in a handsome Charles Lewis binding

Seller: Charles Agvent, est. 1987, ABAA, ILAB, Fleetwood, PA, U.S.A.

Fielding (Henry). The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. In Six Volumes.. Printed for A. Millar, 1749.

Price: US$5850.76 + shipping

Description: FIRST EDITION, 3 wood engraved tail-pieces, errata leaf present in vol. i (see note), gathering E in vol. i misbound with pp. 81-88 between 92 and 93, final blanks present in vols. i and iii, occasional slight browning, and the odd minor stain here and there, textblock in 2 vols. cracked, with corresponding cracks in spine of binding, and a similar tendency in all vols., pp. lxii, [i, Errata], 214, [2, blank]; [i], 324; [i], 324; [i], 370 plus final blank leaf; [i], 312; [i], 294; [i], 304, 12mo, contemporary (publisher's) sprinkled calf, new red lettering pieces, joints cracked, lower cover of vol. I detached, hinge of vol. vi invisibly reinforced, various bookplates and inscriptions of the Farquhars of Gilmilnescroft (Ayrshire), sound. Fielding's masterpiece, widely regarded as the greatest English novel of the eighteenth century. The question of cancelled leaves in this novel has exercised bibliographers for decades, but Hugh Amory's article in Harvard Library Bulletin (Volume 25, 1977) confirms that the cancellans usually number twenty-four (twelve single leaves plus the whole of signature O in volume three). The numerous errors which occurred in the text are a result of its hasty printing; demand for the novel forced publisher and author into print before they were properly ready. The fact that volume six, which contains some of the most glaring errors, is not included in the errata suggests that not only was Millar unable to bind fast enough to keep up with demand, but also that he did not wait for either proof readers or Fielding to read the last volume. The entire first edition of 2,000 copies was immediately bought up by the London trade, necessitating a second edition very quickly. Both Cross and Jensen support the view that the second edition was in hand at about the same time as the sixth volume of the first edition went to press. The latter goes further and suggests that the second edition may even have been printed before publication of the first. The most obvious difference is that the errata leaf in volume one is omitted and the re-spaced Contents extends into the page which it formerly occupied. Cross concludes that 'Tom Jones, as the novel [first] appeared in February, is a most rare book.' (Cross Vol.2, pp.117-22 and Vol.3, pp. 316-17: Jensen. Proposals for a Definitive Edition of Fielding's Tom Jones. The Library, 4th Ser., Vol.XVIII, p.314 et seq.: Rothschild 850)

Seller: Blackwell's Rare Books ABA ILAB BA, Oxford, United Kingdom

Henry Fielding (1707-1754). The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling.. Printed for Andrew Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$6000.00 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: Six volumes. lxiii+[blank]+214 pages; [2 blank]+title=blank=324+[2 blank] pages; [2 blank]+title+[blank]+370+[2 blank] pages; [2 blank]+title+[blank]+312+[2 blank] pages; [2 blank]+title+[blank]+294+[2 blank] pages; [4 blank]+title+[blank]+304+[4 blank] pages. Duodecimo (6 3/4" x 4")bound in full uniform contemporary calf with five raised spine bands with gilt numbering to spine and gilt edges to covers. (ESTC T1947; Grolier English 48; Rothschild 850) First edition, first issue. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, often known simply as Tom Jones, is a comic novel by English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. It is a Bildungsroman and a picaresque novel. It was first published on 28 February 1749 in London and is among the earliest English works to be classified as a novel. The novel is highly organized despite its length. Samuel Taylor Coleridge argued that it has one of the "three most perfect plots ever planned", alongside Oedipus Tyrannus and The Alchemist. It became a best seller with four editions published in its first year alone. It is generally regarded as Fielding's greatest book and as an influential English novel. Fielding presents a panorama of contemporary British life, drawing characters from many different classes and occupations. But Ian Watt argues in The Rise of the Novel that Fielding did not aim at the "realism of presentation" of lifelike detail and psychology practiced by authors such as Richardson. Watt claims that Fielding was more focused on the "realism of assessment", the way in which the novel engages a broad range of topics with intelligence and "a wise assessment of life" The novel takes place against the backdrop of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Characters take different sides over the rebellion, which was an attempt to restore Roman Catholicism as the established religion of England and to undo the Glorious Revolution. At one point Sophia Western is even mistaken for Jenny Cameron, the supposed lover of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Good-natured characters are often moderately loyalist and Anglican, or even supporters of the House of Hanover, while ill-natured characters (Mrs Western) or mistaken ones (Partridge) can be Jacobites, or (like Squire Western) anti-Hanoverian. William Wrightson of Cusworth, Yorkshire, was a British landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1784 to 1790. Wrightson was the son of John Battie originally of Sprotborough, Yorkshire and his wife Isabella Wrightson, daughter of William Wrightson of Cusworth Hall. Battie took name of Wrightson in 1766 on inheriting Cusworth Hall). Wrightson was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and Lincoln's Inn and succeeded his father to the Cusworth estate in 1785. Wrightson was elected MP for Aylesbury at the 1784 British general election, sitting until 1790. He was appointed High Sheriff of Yorkshire for 1819–20. Condition: Somewhat worn, bindings rubbed and scuffed spine ends rubbed, corners bumped and rubbed through, lacks front free end paper volume one. Former copy William Wrightson (1752-1827) of Cusworth in Yorkshire, with engraved armorial bookplates in the first two volumes, Wrightson's signature in others; also former copy Virginia bibliophile Christopher Clark Geest (1936-2023) else good to very good.

Seller: The Book Collector, Inc. ABAA, ILAB, Fort Worth, TX, U.S.A.

FIELDING, Henry. History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. Printed for A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$6500.00 + shipping

Description: In six volumes. London: Printed for A. Millar, 1749. First edition, with list of errata on c8 recto in Volume I and with all errata mentioned still uncorrected throughout. Six twelvemo volumes (6 3/8 x 3 7/8 inches; 162 x 99 mm). lxii, [1, errata], [1, blank], 214, [2, blank]; [2], 324; [2], 370, [2, blank]; [2], 312; [2], 294; [2], 304 pp. Collates complete per Rothschild, with all of the usual cancels (volume I; B9 & 10: volume II; B4 & 5, and N12: volume III; H8, H9, H10, M3, and Q11: volume V; N8) and final blanks as called for (K12 in volume I and R12 in volume III). The catchword for Vol. I, page 21 is "lected." Full contemporary calf. All volumes with headcap repairs. Volumes 1,4, 5, & 6 rebacked preserving original spines and labels. Boards double ruled in gilt. Spines stamped and ruled in gilt. With red morocco spine labels and black morocco volume number lozenges, all lettered in gilt. Some minor foxing here and there, otherwise very clean. Previous owner's old ink signature on front endpapers of all volumes. A small bookplate to front pastedown of volumes II and III. Evidence of small removed bookplate on front pastedown of all volumes. Volume II with some fading to front board and a small corner stain to leaf N12. Volume III, leaf O11 with upper corner with small repair, only affecting the page number. Overall all a very clean, nice set. "One of the three most perfect plots ever penned." (Coleridge). The entire first edition of 2,000 copies was immediately bought up by the London trade, necessitation a second edition very quickly. Both Cross and Jensen support the view that the second edition was in hand at about the same time that the sixth volume of the first edition went to press. Cross III, pp. 316-317. Grolier, 100 English, 48. Rothschild 850-851. Sterling 360. HBS 68417. $6,500.

Seller: Heritage Book Shop, ABAA, Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A.

Fielding, Henry. THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING. A. Millar, over-against Catharine-street in the Strand, London, 1749.

Price: US$7000.00 + shipping

Description: First edition. Six volumes. 12mo, lxii, errata, 214p; (ii) 324p; 370p; (ii), 312p; (ii), 294p; (ii), 3049. Complete with appropriate cancels. Bound in full speckled calf with marbled endpapers, a.e.g., the spines densely gilt with red and black title and date labels, the covers with triple fillet rules and floral corner pieces, dentelles. (Penciled note on flyleaf of Vol I. reads "collated perfect, B. Quaritch."). Ashley Library Catalogue, II, p 115-116: Grolier English One Hundred, No. 48. Fine, lovely condition, outer hinges of Volume I professionally repaired

Seller: First Folio A.B.A.A., Paris, TN, U.S.A.

Fielding Henry. THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING. London for A. Millar 1749, 1749.

Price: US$7150.00 + shipping

Description: 6 volumes. First edition, the first issue with errata leaf in volume I and all the cancels listed in Rothschild (also with the cancels N12 in Vol. II and B1 in Vol. IV overlooked in the Rothschild collation). Small 8vo, handsomely bound in contemporary polished calf, the spine panels sometime replaced to match with raised bands gilt ruled, two compartments with red morocco labels gilt lettered, one compartment with date in gilt The six volumes now housed in a slipcase. lxii, errata, 214; [2], 324; [2], 370;[2], 312; [2], 294; [2], 304 pp. A handsome set, the textblocks well preserved with just a bit of expected age mellowing, the bindings handsome, one volume with some signatures springing, some expected minor rubbing at the joints and tips, one volume with a small chip. HANDSOME FIRST EDITION AND FIRST ISSUE OF A CORNERSTONE WORK IN ENGLISH LITERATURE. An attractive set of Fielding’s classic story. ‘Tom Jones’ is not only generally regarded as Fielding’s greatest work, but is one of the first and most influential English novels. Coleridge acknowledged it as having one of the three great plots of all literature. Although a great success, the book drew criticism from many, including Dr. Johnson, for the hero’s high-spirited and varied sexual escapades.

Seller: Buddenbrooks, Inc., Newburyport, MA, U.S.A.

FIELDING, Henry. THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES A Foundling. Printed for A. Millar, 1749.

Price: US$7150.93 + shipping

Description: First edition, first issue with all points called for by Rothschild. Six volumes all bound in contemporary speckled brown calf, with raised bands, title labels, gilt rules and volume numbers to the spines. Page edges speckled red. A near fine set, sometime neatly rebacked to style. The contents generally clean and fresh, with a small chip to the lower margin of leaves M2 and R3 in volume three, affecting the text in neither case though grazing the initial in the former. Repaired closed tears to the title pages of volumes two and four. The author's masterpiece, which along with 'Robinson Crusoe' and 'Gulliver', form the three great novels of the eighteenth century. It was Fielding's novel however, which established the genre as we know it today. Fielding was the first major novelist to unabashedly write fiction, at the same time undertaking an initial critical theory of the new form he was creating. The introductory chapters preceding the individual books in Tom Jones constitute the first extended body of work in English which attempts to define and explain the novel as a literary genre. A "heroical, historical prosaic poem" (IV, 1) or a form of "prosai-comi-epic writing" (V, 1). In defining the novel as an epic genre, Fielding emphasized its function in presenting a broad picture of an era, but one, unlike verse epic, in which the weaknesses of humanity are put on display. Although he termed his new style of writing "history," his definition of the budding genre still influences our understanding of novelistic fiction. Such was the demand for this novel that the 2000 copies of the first edition and a proportion of the 1500 copy second edition all sold out before publication. Rothschild 850; Grolier 100 (English) 48

Seller: Jonkers Rare Books, Henley on Thames, OXON, United Kingdom

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling.. Printed for A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$7200.00 + shipping

Description: First edition, first issue, one of a first printing run of only 2,000 copies with errata leaf in volume one, the errata uncorrected, and all cancels and final blanks, K12 in volume one and R12 in volume three (Rothschild 850). Octavo, 6 volumes, bound in full crushed morocco by Bayntun, red and black morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, raised bands, blind-stamped inner dentelles. A very nice set of first editions, finely bound by Bayntun. "The book is generally regarded as Fielding’s greatest, and as one of the first and most influential of English novels" (Drabble, 988). "Such was the demand that all 2,500 copies in print had already been sold by the date announced for its official publication, a phenomenon that one observer believed to be 'an unheard-of case.' Tom Jones quickly sold 10,000 copies, making it one of the great best-sellers of its time; it has never since been out of print." (John Allen Stevenson, The Real History of Tom Jones).

Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, in Six Volumes.. Printed for A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$7500.00 + shipping

Description: First edition, first issue of one of the most influential English novels, one only 2,000 copies printed. Octavo, bound in full contemporary mottled calf with gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels. Armorial bookplates. In very good condition. "The book is generally regarded as Fielding’s greatest, and as one of the first and most influential of English novels" (Drabble, 988). "Such was the demand that all 2,500 copies in print had already been sold by the date announced for its official publication, a phenomenon that one observer believed to be 'an unheard-of case.' Tom Jones quickly sold 10,000 copies, making it one of the great best-sellers of its time; it has never since been out of print." (John Allen Stevenson, The Real History of Tom Jones).

Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling. A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$7500.00 + shipping

Description: First edition. With errata leaf in vol. I and the following cancels, as usual: B9-10 (vol. I); B4-5 & N12 (vol. II); H8-10, M3 & Q11 (vol. III); B1 (vol. IV); N8 (vol. V). 6 vols. 12mo. The first edition of Fielding's masterpiece, arguably the greatest English novel of the 18th century. Demand for Fielding's novel was so great that all 2,000 copies of the first edition were bought up by the trade before the book's publication on 28 February 1749. A second edition of 1,500 copies, being a paginary reprint of the first, was ordered. By the end of the year 10,000 copies spread over four editions had been issued. The publication announcement in the General Advertiser noted that Tom Jones was offered only in "Blue Paper and Boards, at the price of 16s. a set . It being impossible to get sets bound fast enough to answer the demand for them." This copy of the first edition in contemporary calf with the vol. I errata and the usual cancels. Rothschild 850-851; Cross III, p. 316-7; Grolier English, 48. Provenance: R. Robinson Close & Jane Robinson (signatures on pastedowns); John Clowes (signature on titles); Louis and Anne Marie Davidson (booklabel) Contemporary calf, covers with double-fillet gilt border, red morocco spine labels. Early rebacking preserving spines, joints now rubbed or cracked, spine labels damaged with some loss to lettering, vol. I with light dampstain, vol. 3 spine cracked and texblock split at p. 182-3. Errata in vols. I & II corrected in an early hand With errata leaf in vol. I and the following cancels, as usual: B9-10 (vol. I); B4-5 & N12 (vol. II); H8-10, M3 & Q11 (vol. III); B1 (vol. IV); N8 (vol. V). 6 vols. 12mo

Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.

Fielding, Henry. The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling.. Printed for A. Millar, London, 1749.

Price: US$7800.00 + shipping

Description: First edition, first issue of one of the most influential English novels, one only 2,000 copies printed. Octavo, bound in full contemporary polished calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels. First issued with the errata leaf present in the first volume and errata uncorrected throughout the text. In good condition. Small bookplates. Each volume house in a custom half morocco and folding chemise slipcase. "The book is generally regarded as Fielding’s greatest, and as one of the first and most influential of English novels" (Drabble, 988). "Such was the demand that all 2,500 copies in print had already been sold by the date announced for its official publication, a phenomenon that one observer believed to be 'an unheard-of case.' Tom Jones quickly sold 10,000 copies, making it one of the great best-sellers of its time; it has never since been out of print." (John Allen Stevenson, The Real History of Tom Jones).

Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.

Fielding Henry. THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING. London for A. Millar 1749, 1749.

Price: US$8250.00 + shipping

Description: 6 volumes. First edition, the first issue with errata and uncorrected text. From the noted collection of Beverly Chew with his red morocco, gilt lettered ex libris on the front endpapers. Small 8vo, in very handsome polished antique mottled calf, the boards framed in gilt, the spines with gilt stippled raised bands between gilt framed and tooled compartments featuring large central gilt tooling, two compartments with contrasting red and green morocco labels gilt tooled and lettered, board edges gilt tooled, page edges speckled. Now housed in a fine slipcase. lxii, errata, 214; [2], 324; [2], 370;[2], 312; [2], 294; [2], 304 pp. A very desirable and handsome set, the textblocks well preserved with just a bit of expected mellowing and occasional light sings of fox, clean then is usually found, the bindings very handsome, three volumes very expertly restored at the backs preserving the original spine panels, two of the remaining three with minor rubbing at the joints and tips, the third with a bit more. VERY HANDSOME FIRST EDITION AND FIRST ISSUE OF A CORNERSTONE WORK IN LITERATURE. An unusually attractive set of Fielding’s classic story. ‘Tom Jones’ is not only generally regarded as Fielding’s greatest work, but is one of the first and most influential English novels. Coleridge acknowledged it as having one of the three great plots of all literature. Although a great success, the book drew criticism from many, including Dr. Johnson, for the hero’s high-spirited and varied sexual escapades.

Seller: Buddenbrooks, Inc., Newburyport, MA, U.S.A.