Shirley. A Tale. By Currer Bell, Author of 'Jane Eyre'. IN CONTEMPORARY BINDING

Smith Elder & Co.,, 1849. 3 vols., 8vo., First Edition, uniform mid-nineteenth inscription above title on all three title-pages, fore-margins mildly age-soiled (rather more heavily so on first leaves of first volume; see below); attractively bound in contemporary half calf, marbled boards, back ruled with six flat bands, second compartments lettered in gilt, fourth compartments numbered in gilt, backstrip gilt faded (but all lettering and numbering wholly legible), neatly recased with new endpapers, sprinkled edges, a very good, tight copy. The work was issued without half-titles. This is likely to be an early issue since it is bound without the 16pp publisher's catalogue dated October 1849 sometimes found at end of first volume. With the first of two leaves of publisher's advertisements at end of third volume. The mid-nineteenth century presentation inscription above titles is blotted and obtrusive but nowhere affects printed lettering. This copy has the following minor imperfections: Vol. I: mild marginal age-soiling to title and following eight leaves, short closed tear on title neatly repaired on verso; Vol. III: wanting second leaf of publisher's advertisements at end. The first leaf (here present) contains the announcement of the third edition of Jane Eyre, the second leaf (here absent) contains press opinions of the same work. Overall a nice copy of the author's second novel (set during the Luddite riots) in partially restored period binding. SCARCE. Sadleir 348; Smith, p.112; Parrish, p. 93; Wise 6 (pp.22-29)