Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Hardy Thomas. The Return of the Native [ Volumes 1 & 2 ]. Smith Elder & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$667.81 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Volume 1 & 2, only. Books measure 19.5x14.cm. vi, 303ppvi, 297pp, 2pp booklist, half titles present. Bound in original publishers brown cloth, with black and gilt tooling. Both volumes rubbed, worn, with some loss, hinge joints split. Internally, inscription library bookplate, endpaper joints split, pages slightly loose. Both volumes in good condition. If you have volume 3, in the same cloth binding, I would be interesed in purchasing. F Size: 8vo
Seller: George Jeffery Books, HERTFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
Hardy, Thomas. Return of the Native. Complete in 3 volumes. Smith, Elder & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$2200.00 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: Octavos. Three volumes. Publisher's original brown cloth, titled and decorated in blind, gilt, and black on the upper board and spine, and in blind on the lower board. First edition, with the missing apostrophe on the title page of Vol. 1 and the double rule in blind on the rear board. Volume 1 lacking the top inch of the spine cloth, both hinges cracked but holding; Volume 2 with the spine head perished, Volume 3 with the rear hinge starting, and signature "M" loosening; all volumes quite scuffed and dust-soiled, with corners and edges worn. Scarce in the original cloth.
Seller: Americana Books, ABAA, Stone Mt, GA, U.S.A.
HARDY, Thomas. The Return of the Native. Smith, Elder, & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$2750.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition, first issue of the title page to Volume 1 without the quotation mark after "A Pair of Blue Eyes". Sketch Map of the Scene of the Story as frontispiece of volume 1. Half titles in each volume. Octavo, rebound in 3/4 leather over marbled boards. Top edges gilt. Very Good, with light shelf wear, but the spine leather has dried out and cracked. Gilt lettering is legible.
Seller: Yesterday's Gallery, ABAA, East Woodstock, CT, U.S.A.
HARDY, Thomas. The Return of the Native. Smith, Elder, & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$2750.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition, first issue of the title page to Volume 1 without the quotation mark after "A Pair of Blue Eyes". Sketch Map of the Scene of the Story as frontispiece of volume 1. Half titles in each volume. Octavo, rebound in 3/4 leather over marbled boards. Top edges gilt. Very Good, with light shelf wear, but the spine leather has dried out and cracked. Gilt lettering is legible.
Seller: Babylon Revisited Rare Books, Northampton, MA, U.S.A.
HARDY, Thomas.. The Return of the Native.. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1878., 1878.
Price: US$2900.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: FIRST EDITION FIRST ISSUE. 3 vols., 7-1/4" x 4-15/16", (without the quotation marks after A Pair of Blue Eyes on the title of volume I), bound in 3/4 brown morocco, ribbed gilt decorated spines, top edges gilt, internally clean and bright, hinges fine, head and foot of spines fine, overall VERY GOOD.
Seller: D&D Galleries - ABAA, Somerville, NJ, U.S.A.
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: Three vols, 8vos; 303, 297, 320; advertisement in rear of second volume; brown cloth stamped in black and gilt. One of 1000 copies, this one in Sadleir's "B" binding (no priority), with double blind frame on rear boards and slightly larger spine imprint. A nice set of one of Hardy's most enduring novels. Frontispiece map in vol. 1 detached and loosely inserted; rear inner hinge of vol. 1 cracked; covers rubbed, especially at spinal extremities, and with faint marks to their front panel where it appears that labels may once have been affixed; some light, internal spotting; a presentable set
Seller: Locus Solus Rare Books (ABAA, ILAB), Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
HARDY, Thomas.. Return of the Native.. Smith, Elder, & Co. 1878, 1878.
Price: US$3148.26 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION. 3 vols. Front. vol. I; some occasional light foxing. Contemp. half red grained calf, gilt ruled spines, lettered in gilt, marbled paper boards; sl. wear to head & tail of spines. A nice copy. Maroon cloth slipcase. Purdy pp. 24-27; Sadlier 1113; Wolff 2989. The first impression without a quotation mark after 'Blue Eyes' on titlepage vol. I.
Seller: Jarndyce, The 19th Century Booksellers, London, United Kingdom
Hardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native. Smith, Elder and Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Three volumes. First edition, and one of 1,000 copies printed. Finely bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, without half-titles to I & II, advert leaf at rear of Volume II. Near Fine. Foxing to endsheets, contents toned. A lovely set.
Seller: Burnside Rare Books, ABAA, Portland, OR, U.S.A.
Hardy, Thomas. The return of the native. Smith, Elder & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue (without the quotation marks after A Pair of Blue Eyes on the title of volume I), 3 volumes, 8vo, frontispiece map of the scene of the story in volume I after Hardy; half blue morocco of the second half of the 20th century, gilt-lettered direct on gilt-paneled spines, t.e.g. Danielson, p. 22; Purdy pp. 24-27; Sadlier 1113; Wolff 2989.
Seller: Rulon-Miller Books (ABAA / ILAB), St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.
HARDY, Thomas. Return of the Native. Smith, Elder, London, 1878.
Price: US$3750.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Frontispiece map. 3 vols. small 8vo, rebound in full green smooth calf, all edges gilt, gilt dentelles, raised bands with red & black spine labels, by Bayntun. First issue, missing a quotation mark on the title page.
Seller: Argosy Book Store, ABAA, ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.
HARDY, Thomas.. The Return of the Native.. London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1878, 1878.
Price: US$3816.07 + shipping
Description: First edition in book form of one of the author's major novels, set, as was Far from the Madding Crowd (1874), in the heathland of his childhood. The Return of the Native first appeared in the magazine Belgravia in 12 monthly instalments from January to December 1878. To please his readers, Hardy changed the conclusion of the novel in later editions, declaring in a footnote at the penultimate chapter that "the original conception of the story did not design a marriage between Thomasin and Venn. He was to have retained his isolated and weird character to the last. Thomasin remaining a widow. But certain circumstances of serial publication led to a change of intent. Readers can therefore choose between the endings, and those with an austere artistic code can assume the more consistent conclusion to be the true one." Purdy, pp. 24-27; Sadleir 1113; Wolff 2989. 3 volumes, octavo (180 x 120 mm). Contemporary red half morocco, spines lettered and ruled in gilt, floral gilt device in compartments, sides and corners ruled with twin gilt fillets, marbled sides and endpapers, top edges gilt. Map frontispiece by the author. Bound with half-titles. Vol. II bound without rear ad leaf. A little rubbing and wear to extremities, neatly retouched, foxing to outer leaves, margins mildly toned, else clean, small paper restoration to upper outer corner of vol. II p. 263, not affecting text. A very good copy indeed.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Hardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native. Smith, Elder, & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$4000.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, first issue, with the closed quotation mark around 'A Pair of Blue Eyes' dropped on the title page in volume I. Frontispiece map by Hardy of the scene of the story in Volume I. [vi], 303; [vi], 297, [3]; [vi], 320 pp. 3 vols. 8vo. The Return of the Native was first published serially in Belgravia from January to December 1878. The first edition in book form of 1,000 copies incorporated several new chapter titles as well as other deletions and additions to the text. "A renewed preoccupation with regional materials and topography is immediately signalled . by the presence, as frontispiece, of Hardy's own 'Sketch map of the scene of the story', identifiably based on the heathland of his childhood. Also quickly apparent is the ambitiousness of the novel's conception. Its principal characters may ultimately lack grandeur-the reformist Clym Yeobright emerging as an arid idealist, the romantic Eustacia Vye as a woman of very ordinary imagination and desires-but structure, imagery, and allusions persistently evoke both a native primitivism and the conventions of classical theatre . The Return of the Native, even so, was not enthusiastically reviewed" (ODNB). Purdy p.24-27; Sadleir 1113; Wilson 49 Bound in forest green half morocco backed marble boards with gilt ruling, gilt titles on five-banded spine, and t.e.g. Marble endpapers with handsome bookplate of heiress Gustavia Senff on upper pastedowns, a little bumping on upper corners, else near fine Frontispiece map by Hardy of the scene of the story in Volume I. [vi], 303; [vi], 297, [3]; [vi], 320 pp. 3 vols. 8vo First edition, first issue, with the closed quotation mark around 'A Pair of Blue Eyes' dropped on the title page in volume I.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Hardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native.. Smith, Elder, & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition in book form, first issue of Hardy's sixth published novel without theÂsingle quotation mark after "A PairÂofÂBlue Eyes" onÂtheÂtitle-pageÂofÂthe first volume. Octavo, three volumes bound in full crushed levant morocco by Worsfold, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling and maple leaf cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles stamp-signed by Worsfold, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, half-titles, engraved frontispiece map in volume one, original cloth bound in at rear of each volume. TheÂReturnÂofÂtheÂNative was first published serially in Belgravia from January to December 1878.ÂTheÂfirst edition in book formÂofÂ1,000 copies incorporated several new chapter titles as well as other deletions and additions toÂthe text. Purdy pp. 24-27; Sadleir 1113; Wilson 49. In very good condition. The Return of the Native is Thomas Hardy's sixth published novel. It first appeared in the magazine Belgravia, a publication known for its sensationalism, and was presented in twelve monthly installments from January to December 1878. Because of the novel's controversial themes, Hardy had some difficulty finding a publisher; reviews, however, though somewhat mixed, were generally positive. In the twentieth century, The Return of the Native became one of Hardy's most popular and highly regarded novels.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Hardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native. Smith, Elder & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$7800.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Thomas Hardy's sixth novel, one of 1000 copies. Set amid the wild landscape of Egdon Heath, the tension between two unhappy couples, pulled together and then apart, produces the mounting sense of dread so characteristic of Hardy's later fiction: "To be conscious that the end of the dream is approaching, and yet has not absolutely come, is one of the most wearisome as well as the most curious situations along the whole course between the beginning of a passion and its end." First issue, with the closing quotation mark around 'A Pair of Blue Eyes' dropped on the title page of Volume I. Purdy, 24-27. A near-fine copy. Three volumes, measuring 7.5 x 5 inches: [6], 303, [1]; [6], 297, [3]; [6], 320. Original brown cloth stamped in black and blind, spines decoratively stamped and lettered in gilt and black; cream-coated endpapers. Frontispiece map, after a drawing by Hardy, facing title page in Volume I; two pages of publisher's advertisements at end of Volume II. Red morocco-gilt bookplates of collector Hannah D. Rabinowitz in each volume; bookseller label of Philip C. Duchnes in Volume I. Lightest shelfwear, spotting to edges and endpapers. Housed in a custom silk-lined box by Riviere & Son.
Seller: Honey & Wax Booksellers, ABAA, Brooklyn, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$8044.25 + shipping
Description: 3 volumes. Frontispiece map by Hardy in first volume, 7.5 x 5.25, original decorated brown cloth with two embossed borders on rear covers, 303 pp, 297 pp + ads, 320 pp, covers quite worn, extremities bumped and fraying, spines cocked, volume 3 rehinged, eps unevenly toned, vols 1 and 2 have loose hinges, contents toned with some spotting and finger soil, but still a decent set of the FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE with the ' missing on title page of volume 1.
Seller: John K King Used & Rare Books, Detroit, MI, U.S.A.
Hardy Thomas. THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE. London Smith, Elder and Company 1878, 1878.
Price: US$9075.00 + shipping
Description: 3 volumes. First edition, and with the first issue state of the title-page to Vol. I. A COPY WITH FINE PROVENANCE, FROM THE DOHENY COLLECTION WITH THE FINE MOROCCO LABELS GILT OF ESTELLE DOHENY AT THE PASTEDOWNS. With a cartographic frontispiece in the first volume drawn by Hardy. 8vo, in the publisher's original brown fine-ribbed cloth with panels and simple ornaments blocked in black on the upper boards; the lower boards with a simple blind-stamped double ruled border, the spines attractively lettered and decorated in gilt and black, Purdy's first issue binding, which is Sadleir's second. Now housed together in a single morocco backed slipcase, with chemise, the spine tooled and decorated as a three volume set of books. [ii], vi, 304; [ii], vi, 297 [298], ad leaf; ii, vi, 320. A pleasing set in fully original state, the original cloth still bright with vivid decoration. Some of the expected rubbing along the edges and tips, the volumes just a touch shaken but the set fully unsophisticated and with no repairs or restoration, the textblocks still quite fresh. A rare work in the original cloth. A VERY HANDSOME AND PROPER SET IN FULLY ORIGINAL STATE AND WITH THE VERY FINE PROVENANCE OF THE DOHENY COLLECTION. THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE was written at Riverside Villa, Sturnmonster Newton, though probably finished at Upper Tooting where the Hardys took a house in March of 1878. The first seven chapters were written by the summer of 1877 and the first two books by November, and serial publication was begun in Chatto and Windus's "Belgravia" in January 1878. Hardy had offered the novel to Leslie Stephen for the "Cornhill" magazine, but the latter feared that the novel's personal relations were developing into something too dangerous for a family magazine, and he refused to begin a serial publication without seeing the completed work. Since this was not possible, Hardy's association with Stephen as editor was ended, and Smith, Elder and Co. agreed on 20 September to publish the finished novel. The book was published in November of 1878 in an edition of only 1000 copies. It was never again reprinted in three-volume format.
Seller: Buddenbrooks, Inc., Newburyport, MA, U.S.A.
Hardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native. Smith, Elder, & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$9500.00 + shipping
Description: FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM, FIRST ISSUE, without the single quotation mark after "A Pair of Blue Eyes" on the title-page of the first volume. Frontispiece map by Hardy of the scene of the story in Volume I. vi, 303; vi, 297, [3]; vi, 320 pp. 2 pages of undated ads in Volume II with 2 Hardy titles mentioned. 3 vols. 8vo. Hardy Triple Decker in Scarce Original Cloth. The Return of the Native was first published serially in Belgravia from January to December 1878. The first edition in book form of 1,000 copies incorporated several new chapter titles as well as other deletions and additions to the text. "A renewed preoccupation with regional materials and topography is immediately signalled . by the presence, as frontispiece, of Hardy's own 'Sketch map of the scene of the story', identifiably based on the heathland of his childhood. Also quickly apparent is the ambitiousness of the novel's conception. Its principal characters may ultimately lack grandeur-the reformist Clym Yeobright emerging as an arid idealist, the romantic Eustacia Vye as a woman of very ordinary imagination and desires-but structure, imagery, and allusions persistently evoke both a native primitivism and the conventions of classical theatre . The Return of the Native, even so, was not enthusiastically reviewed" (ODNB). Purdy p.24-27; Sadleir 1113; Wilson 49 Publisher's brown cloth decorated with black and gilt, light rubbing overall, hinges of volume two tender, bookplates of Carol Atwood Wilson; in a custom blue half-morocco clamshell slipcase and chemise Frontispiece map by Hardy of the scene of the story in Volume I. vi, 303; vi, 297, [3]; vi, 320 pp. 2 pages of undated ads in Volume II with 2 Hardy titles mentioned. 3 vols. 8vo FIRST EDITION IN BOOK FORM, FIRST ISSUE, without the single quotation mark after "A Pair of Blue Eyes" on the title-page of the first volume.
Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Hardy, Thomas. The Return of the Native. Smith, Elder, & Co, London, 1878.
Price: US$12500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition, First Printing SIGNED by Thomas Hardy on a laid in signature in Volume 1. A beautiful copy. This 3 Volume First Edition set without the quotation marks after "A Pair of Blue Eyes" on the title of volume I has minor wear to the spines. All three books are bound in the ORIGINAL publisher's Brown Cloth. The bindings are tight with NO cocking or leaning. The pages are clean with minor wear to the edges. There is NO writing, marks or bookplates in the books. Overall, a wonderful set SIGNED by the author. We buy Thomas Hardy First Editions.
Seller: Magnum Opus Rare Books, Missoula, MT, U.S.A.