The Black Robe

London: Chatto and Windus, 1881. First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 7.5" by 5.5". None. An incredibly scarce, first edition set of Wilkie Collins' novel 'The Black Robe'. In the original cloth binding. All three volumes are in the original black pictorial cloth bindings. With the library label for 'Mitchell's Royal Library' to the front boards. It is common for this work to have library plates. Volume I has been rebacked, with the original spine laid down. Complete in three volumes.The black robe is regarded as an anti-catholic novel. "The black robe" was stylistically different compared to his prior novels. This novel is epistolary in form and is formed of a selection of "scenes" for coherence. Collins had previous success in dispersing the narrative across a range of narrators.  In this novel a high ranking Catholic priest schemes to recover property he considers to belong to the church. In the same year a single volume publication of this work was issued. A very scarce work, particularly in the original binding. Collins is probably best known for 'The Woman in White' and 'The Moonstone'. The latter is regarded as the first modern detective novel. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Volume I is rebacked with the original spine laid down. Library stamp to the front board of all volumes. Externally, very smart with just some light shelfwear to the extremities. Minor loss to the head and tail of spine. Small dent to the head of rear board to volume II. Internally, generally firmly bound. Pages are slightly age toned to edges. Occasional scattered spots to pages. Very Good