Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Thomas Hardy. The Well Beloved A Sketch Of A Temperament. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co, 1897.
Price: US$9.34 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: 1897. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co . Hardcover. ACCEPTABLE Black boards. Gilt titles. Slight edgewear. Boards marked. Spine worn. Spine marked. End page foxing. Pages discoloured throughout. Foxing throughout. Previous owners name. 7x5.
Seller: Cambridge Rare Books, Cambridge, GLOUC, United Kingdom
Hardy, Thomas. The Well-Beloved. Osgood, McIlvaine, London, 1897.
Price: US$19.32 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: A copy in the uniform Wessex Novels series, this being volume 17. Some closed tears on the spine and light marks on front cover.
Seller: Beach Hut Books, Lingfield, United Kingdom
Price: US$25.77 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: The Wessex Novels, volume XVII. Original cloth covered boards, bright gilt titling on spine, gilt device on upper cover. Rubbed to corners. Frayed to top of spine, nicked to tail. Discoloured area to upper cover. Gilt to top edge. Slight lean. No ownership inscription. Foxing mainly to end papers. Etching by Macbeth-Raeburn and a b/w map of Wessex. Untrimmed pages. 339 pages clean and tight. Size: 8vo
Seller: CHARLES BOSSOM, Ely, CAMBS, United Kingdom
Price: US$29.56 + shipping
Description: Octavo, 338pp + map of the Wessex of the Novels at rear, original dark green cloth, a bit rubbed and edgeworn, a very good copy. . The Wessex Novels vol XVII. Frontis etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn.
Seller: Grant's Bookshop, Cheltenham, VIC, Australia
Price: US$45.09 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First impression of the true first edition in book-form, issued as volume XVII of The Wessex Novels. "The Well-beloved" was Thomas Hardy's final novel. A few chapters were re-written by the author for this first edition after it appeared in 1892 in the periodical press, as mentioned in the two-page preface. ***Illustrated with a tissue-guarded black and white steel-engraved etching frontispiece by H. Macbeth-Raeburn. With a black and white map of Wessex to the rear. Two-page preface by the author written in January 1897. ***Very good in dark green cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine and gilt art-nouveau floral and monogram "T.H." circular design to the front board. Fore-edge and bottom edge of text-block untrimmed (rough-cut, as called for). ***Please note that this is an ex-library copy. Small violet ink stamp: 'Havelock House Library Sunderland' to top of front free endpaper and to top of pages 25, 249, and contemporaneous 1900's black and white floral bordered printed library book plate to the front free endpaper. Edges of boards slightly rubbed. Rear board slightly surface rubbed. Small scuff to the outer cloth towards top of rear board. Top corners of a few pages creased. No inscriptions. Spine tight. ***208mm x148mm. 338 pages plus black and white map of Wessex to rear. ***The novel, mostly set on the Isle of Slingers, is based on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. The peninsula carved by Time out of a single stone, whereon most of the following scenes are laid, has been for centuries immemorial the home of a curious and almost distinctive people, cherishing strange beliefs and singular customs, now for the most part obsolescent. Fancies, like certain soft-wooded plants which cannot bear the silent inland frosts, but thrive by the sea in the roughest of weather, seem to grow up naturally here, in particular amongst those natives who have no active concern in the labour of the 'Isle'. Hence it is a spot apt to generate a type of personage like the character imperfectly sketched in these pages - a native of natives - whom some may chose to call a fantasist (if they honour him with their consideration so far), but whom others may see only as one that gave objective continuity and a name to a delicate dream which in a vaguer form is more or less common to all men, and is by no means new to Platonic philosophers. ***To those who know the rock coign of England here depicted - overlooking the great Channel Highway with all its suggestiveness, and standing out so far into mid-sea that touches of the Gulf Stream soften the air til February - it is matter of surprise that the place has not been more frequently chosen to be the retreat of artists and poets in search of inspiration, the tempestuous rather than the fine seasons by preference.' (Quote taken from the preface by Thomas Hardy) ***An ex-library copy of the first impression of the true first edition, in the original cloth covered boards, in complete condition including the frontispiece etching and map of Wessex to the rear. ***Of interest to collectors of antiquarian and Victorian literary first editions and the works of Thomas Hardy. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc.
Seller: Orlando Booksellers, Lincoln, United Kingdom
Hardy, Thomas,. THE WELL-BELOVED. Osgood, Mcilvaine and Co., London, 1897.
Price: US$45.09 + shipping
Description: x,339pp, map, orig. green cloth, gilt, t.e.g., v.g.,boards damp spotting, off-setting on end-papers. Size: 8vo
Seller: THOMAS RARE BOOKS, Yaxley, SUFFOLK, United Kingdom
Price: US$51.53 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: original decorated cloth, spine bumped, frontispiece by H Macbeth-Raeburn and map of Wessex, top edge gilt, a nice copy. same year as the first edition; 338 pages; keywords: fiction;
Seller: Tiger books, Canterbury, United Kingdom
Price: US$56.68 + shipping
Description: Dark green cl.gt. TH monogram engr.on front cover. In generally good condition. Some handling and rubbing marks to covers. Spine chipped at head. FILE Copy Harper & Brothers Bookplate on front endpaper. Some browning to endpapers and a couple of small handling marks, else pages all very clean and tight. Etched frontispiece. Map. 337 pp.
Seller: PROCTOR / THE ANTIQUE MAP & BOOKSHOP, DORCHESTER, United Kingdom
HARDY, Thomas. The Well-Beloved. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co,, London, 1897.
Price: US$57.97 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description:
Seller: Broadhursts of Southport Ltd ABA ILAB BA, Southport, United Kingdom
Hardy, Thomas,. THE WELL-BELOVED. Osgood, Mcilvaine and Co., London, 1897.
Price: US$57.97 + shipping
Description: 1st edition, x,339pp, map, octavo, orig. green cloth, gilt, t.e.g., v.g.,boards damp spotting, light foxing on end-papers. Size: 8vo
Seller: THOMAS RARE BOOKS, Yaxley, SUFFOLK, United Kingdom
Price: US$66.29 + shipping
Description: Very good copy in the original gilt-blocked dark green cloth with unique Thomas Hardy gilt insignia to front board. Spine bands and panel edges somewhat rubbed and dust-toned as with age. Remains quite well-preserved overall: tight, bright, clean and strong. Previous owner's ownership plate to front pastedown.; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 337 pages; Physical desc.: vii, 337 p. front , tissue guard; map. 20 cm. Subject: Man-woman relationships -- Fiction. Mothers and daughters -- Fiction -- Wessex. Sculptors -- Fiction. Summary: This novel is set in London and Portland, and follows the life of Jocelyn Pierston, a talented sculptor who has an obsession to find the perfect woman. Unfortunately this proves impossible in his eyes. Series: Thomas Hardy's Works The Wessex Novels volume xvii. Notes: Imprint and date from title-page verso. With a half-title page. Title vignette. Other names: Macbeth-Raeburn, H. (Henry), 1860-1947. 1 Kg.
Seller: MW Books Ltd., Galway, Ireland
Hardy, Thomas:. The Well-Beloved A Sketch of a Temperament. London: Osgood McIlvaine and Co, 1897.
Price: US$70.85 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First edition. Hardcover book. Dark green cloth, gilt title to spine and gilt motif to front cover of Hardy's initials with floral surround, lacking a little of the gilt, no dustjacket. 337 pages. With original etching by H.Macbeth-Raeburn as frontispiece (tissue guarded), and a map of Wessex at back. Clean, front bright, spine slightly dulled ,lightly bumped corners . Pages mostly very clean, browned closed edges, light spotting and browning to endpapers and tissue, (etching clean), small feint booksellers embossed stamp to front end-paper(W H Smith) previous owners name. A Very Good copy. Pictures available.
Seller: David Ford Books PBFA, Cley-next-the-Sea, United Kingdom
Price: US$82.00 + shipping
Description: Very good copy in the original gilt-blocked dark green cloth with unique Thomas Hardy gilt insignia to front board. Spine bands and panel edges somewhat rubbed and dust-toned as with age. Remains quite well-preserved overall: tight, bright, clean and strong. Previous owner's ownership plate to front pastedown.; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 337 pages; Physical desc.: vii, 337 p. front , tissue guard; map. 20 cm. Subject: Man-woman relationships -- Fiction. Mothers and daughters -- Fiction -- Wessex. Sculptors -- Fiction. Summary: This novel is set in London and Portland, and follows the life of Jocelyn Pierston, a talented sculptor who has an obsession to find the perfect woman. Unfortunately this proves impossible in his eyes. Series: Thomas Hardy's Works The Wessex Novels volume xvii. Notes: Imprint and date from title-page verso. With a half-title page. Title vignette. Other names: Macbeth-Raeburn, H. (Henry), 1860-1947. 1 Kg.
Seller: MW Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$85.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: A very good copy of the true first edition in original dark green cloth stamped in gilt, top edge gilt (minor wear; ink name on front endpaper). Wessex Novels, Volume XVII (but the true first edition). [12], 337, [2] pages + plate. Three-part novel (indicating the age of the protagonist), with the author's 2-page preface (dated January, 1897).
Seller: Arundel Books, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
HARDY, Thomas. The Well-Beloved: A Sketch of A Temperament. Osgood McIlvaine and CO, London, 1897.
Price: US$85.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition, Octavo, _ leather over green, blue, gilt, and white marbled boards, gilt stamped lettering and design on spine, five raised bands on spine, gilt top edge. Bound by Stikeman + Co. for Charles Scribner's Sons, part of English poet and novelist Thomas Hardy's Wessex novel series. Very good, moderate wear to leather, some shelf wear.
Seller: Yesterday's Gallery, ABAA, East Woodstock, CT, U.S.A.
Price: US$95.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: First edition. 8vo. Frontispiece etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn; map of Wessex at end. 338 pages. Old red cloth (spine faced to brown; remainder binding?). Good. Purdy p. 92-96.
Seller: Houle Rare Books/Autographs/ABAA/PADA, Palm Springs, CA, U.S.A.
Thomas Hardy. THE WELL-BELOVED. Osgood McIlvaine and Co., London, 1897.
Price: US$96.62 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: This particularly well preserved first edition is bound in uniform finely ribbed green cloth covered boards with bright gilt titling to the spine and similar TH cypher to the upper board. There are gilt top page edges and others untrimmed. The stock is tight, bright and unmarked. There is some 'ghosting' from a cutting laid in from The Daily Chronicle (December 28 1899) of a letter to the Editor entitled " A Christmas Ghost Story" from Thomas Hardy referring to an article concerning the Boer War published by the newspaper on Christmas day. The Well-Beloved was described as Volume XVII of The Wessex Novels and was Hardy's final novel. This copy is just one of a large number of Hardy first editions in like condition that I am selling on this site. Ref V V V 2
Seller: Amazing Book Company, Liphook, United Kingdom
HARDY Thomas. The Well-Beloved. A Sketch of Temperament. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co 1897, 1897.
Price: US$96.62 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: original decorated cloth, spine bumped with small nick at head, frontispiece by H Macbeth-Raeburn and map of Wessex, top edge gilt, a nice copy. first edition; 338 pages
Seller: Tiger books, Canterbury, United Kingdom
HARDY, THOMAS.. The Well-Beloved. London: Osgood, McIlvaine, 1897, 1897.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Publisher's cloth; a little bumped; very good to fine. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition, issued as Vol XVII in Hardy's 'The Wessex Novels'. [x], 339 pp with leaf of descriptive letterpress for frontispiece tipped to title, with an Etching by H[enry] Macbeth Raeburn and a Map of Essex. 8vo. Purdy pp. 92-96 Dark green cloth with gilt roundel on cover and titles on spine, partial perished head of spine, light chipping on top of front boards and at foot of spine, t.e.g., with partial early bookplate visible on upper pastedown and some separation on lower pastedown at hinge. Overall a good copy [x], 339 pp with leaf of descriptive letterpress for frontispiece tipped to title, with an Etching by H[enry] Macbeth Raeburn and a Map of Essex. 8vo First Edition, issued as Vol XVII in Hardy's 'The Wessex Novels'.
Seller: The Old Mill Bookshop, HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, U.S.A.
Price: US$109.50 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: The Wessex Novels, Volume xvii. 8vo. Pp viii, 338. Frontis by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and map. Original cloth, a little marked. Teg. Foxings to endpapers. Inscription to front paste-down endpaper. A decent copy.
Seller: Leakey's Bookshop Ltd., Inverness, United Kingdom
Thomas Hardy. The Well Beloved. Osgood Mcilvaine, UK, 1897.
Price: US$109.50 + shipping
Description: 1st Edition 1897. Etching by H Macbeth-Raeburn, with tissue guard, and a map of Wessex. Book is very good++ and bright. Edges lightly rubbed and a little marking to boards and spine. Contents good with bookplate and light foxing to a number of pages. More images available upon request. Ref 11424 ###014352
Seller: Lasting Words Ltd, Northampton, UK, United Kingdom
Thomas Hardy. The Well-Beloved. Osgood McIlvaine, 1897.
Price: US$110.15 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 1st edition 1897, original dark green ribbed boards with TH logo on the front. Small tears to top and bottom of spine , top r/h corner turned a little and slight mark on front (spilt cup of tea?). Inside, the book is very good indeed. NB, although the title page states this is Vol XVII of the Wessex Novels, this is the first edition as a book; it was originally published as a serial in 1892.
Seller: El Pinarillo Books, Morden, United Kingdom
Price: US$122.38 + shipping
Description: 8vo, x, 338pp, half-title present, frontispiece etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn, map of Wessex at rear, t.e.g., orig. cloth gilt with the Thomas Hardy monogram to centre of upper cover, with some very minor wear. A VG+ clean copy. (Purdy, pages 92-96).
Seller: Geoffrey Jackson, Royal Wootton Bassett, WILTS, United Kingdom
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Description: Purdy, p. 92. Sadleir 1118. Sterling 457. Webb, p. 31. Octavo. 337 pp. Engaved frontispiece with tissue guard, one map. Green cloth, gilt spine and gilt front cover vignette. Top edge gilt. Bottom corners lightly worn. Very good. First edition.
Seller: Michael R. Thompson Books, A.B.A.A., Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$156.25 + shipping
Description: First edition, 8vo, pp. [2], viii, [2], 337, [2]; etched frontispiece, full-p. map of Wessex on last leaf; original green cloth stamped in gilt on upper cover and spine, t.e.g. Two previous owners' signatures on front free endpaper, else very good. First published in the Illustrated London News, October to December 1892, and here republished with "many scattered passages excised or added, chapters retitled . and an entirely new conclusion substituted." See Purdy, pp. 92-96.
Seller: Rulon-Miller Books (ABAA / ILAB), St. Paul, MN, U.S.A.
Price: US$161.03 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 339 First edition. ix, 339 pp. Green cloth with gilt decoration and lettering. Top edge gilt. Foxing to endpapers and to tissue-guard & frontis. Ownership names to front pastedown and half title. A few loose sections. Frontis etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn. Map at rear. Volume XVII of The Wessex Novels. VG 8vo.
Seller: Foster Books - Stephen Foster - ABA, ILAB, & PBFA, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$162.32 + shipping
Description: 8vo., First Edition, on laid paper, with etched frontispiece (original tissue guard present) and double-page map in the text, endpapers mildly age-marked, neat signature on frontispiece recto; original series binding of decorative ribbed dark-green cloth gilt, 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover, gilt back, gilt top, uncut, one or two small age-marks on covers else a bright, firm copy. WIth the trade ticket of Blackwell's of Oxford on front paste-down, and blind-stamp of Lyel of Hull on front free endpaper. Hardy's last novel, and his final prose work beyond two or three short sketches written to fulfil engagements. (See 'The Later Years, p.60). Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised, the topography (names and distances) corrected where necessary, chapters frequently retitled, and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' (Purdy p.281). Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot (in this case 'The 'Isle' of the Story') and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production, these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. Although published by Hardy's subsequent publisher Macmillan, the present volume was produced in matching format as 'Volume XVIII' to retain uniformity (the last volume of Hardy's work to be so issued). Several of Hardy's subsequent works were published in matching format (as here) and allocated appropriate volume numbers. All volumes in this series are scarce, especially in this condition. See Purdy, pp.92-96, 281.
Seller: Island Books, Thakeham, West Sussex, United Kingdom
HARDY, THOMAS.. The Well-Beloved. London: Osgood, McIlvaine, 1897, 1897.
Price: US$165.00 + shipping
Description: First Edition. Publisher's cloth; a little spotted; very good to fine in a quarter-morocco (scratched, but very good) slipcase with chemise. All books described as first editions are first printings unless otherwise noted.
Seller: Peter L. Stern & Co., Inc, Newton, MA, U.S.A.
HARDY THOMAS. THE WELL-BELOVED, A SKETCH OF A TEMPERAMENT. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1897.
Price: US$171.26 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: RO60070643: 1897. In-8. Relié. Etat d'usage, Couv. légèrement passée, Dos abîmé, Intérieur frais. 337 pages. Gravure à l'eau-forte en noir et blanc en frontispice. Illustré d'une carte en noir et blanc hors texte en fin d'ouvrage. Titre et motif dorés sur le dos et le premier plat. Tranche de tête dorée. Annotations d'époque en page de garde (ex-libris). . . . Classification Dewey : 420-Langue anglaise. Anglo-saxon
Seller: Le-Livre, SABLONS, France
Price: US$339.33 + shipping
Description: First edition. 8vo, orig. dark green cloth with monogram in gilt on upper cover, (x), (1)-(338)pp. With a map at the rear. About fine. Purdy p.92, Sadleir 1118.
Seller: David Mason Books (ABAC), Toronto, ON, Canada
Price: US$450.89 + shipping
Description: Hardback, approx 8 x 5 inches. In dark green polished full morocco leather fine binding by ?Bayntun & Riviere, Bath.? Gilt paneled boards with initials ?J.M.R.? to front corner. Raised banding and gilt line paneling to spine. Full gilt page edging. Marbled endpapers and wide decorative gilt inner dentelles to boards. In stunning fine condition. Later fine leather binding by Bayntun & Riviere. Binders stamp to corner of front endpaper, with bookseller stamp to bottom corner ?Southeran, Sackville Street.? Pages exceptionally clean and tight. Else a stunning fine copy. 338pp. Frontis etching of Isle of Portland, with tissue guard. Map at rear.
Seller: PROCTOR / THE ANTIQUE MAP & BOOKSHOP, DORCHESTER, United Kingdom
Price: US$615.79 + shipping
Description: London; Osgood, McIlvaine and Co. 1897. Large 8vo. Finely and richly bound in full tan morocco, spine with 5 raised bands, decoratively ruled in compartments and lettered, and dated, direct in gilt, with double panels to boards and decorative cornerpieces in gilt in triple-line gilt fillet, top edges gilt, others untrimmed, decorative gilt dentelles and marbled endpapers, by Birdsall of Northampton; pp. [iv], [v]-viii + [ii] + 337 + [i], with original cloth covers laid down and bound in to rear; illustrated with a frontispiece etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and a map of Wessex; a very nearly fine, and remarkably handsome, copy with just a touch of rubbing to joints and edges, internally uninscribed, and fresh, save offsetting from gilt dentelles to edges of free endpapers. First edition in book form of this often-overlooked Hardy novel which was published as volume XVII in the Wessex Novels series. It is Hardy's penultimate novel which appeared previously in serialised form as The Pursuit of the Well-Beloved in The Illustrated London News in 1892. Here it was considerably revised, for book publication. The setting for the work, as with so much of Hardy's fiction, is Dorset; in this case the Isle of Portland which is referred to here as the Isle of Slingers. With a fairy tale feel the novel tells the story of the sculptor Jocelyn Pierston who falls in love, over twenty-five years, with three generations of the same family - the first woman a romantic ingà nue, the second a worldly coquette, the third a shy, well-educated virgin. Unsurprisingly the novel has been subject to much psychological interpretation over the years, centring around the subject of male desire.
Seller: Henry Sotheran Ltd, London, United Kingdom