THE SPOILS OF POYNTON by James, Henry - 1897

1897. London: William Heinemann, 1897. 1+32 pp undated ads. Original blind-stamped aqua-blue cloth.

First Edition, first (domestic) issue, first binding state. This is James's short novel in which one spineless man and the contents ("spoils") of his estate are pulled in opposite directions by two conniving women: Owen Gereth's mother does not approve of his choice of a fiancée, and so moves out of the family manor along with its most prized contents -- causing his fiancée to question whether she really loves him all that much... The first edition consisted of 2,000 copies (total, including all issues and binding states). This copy is of the first (domestic) issue, with the title page printed in black and red and bearing the date in Roman numerals; it is also in the primary binding, with four irises (rather than nine tulips) blind-stamped on the front cover. Condition is very good-plus (very minor wear at the edges, spine slightly darkened, endpapers just cracked at the gutter, W.H. Smith label on the front paste-down). Supino 48.1.0; Edel & Laurence A48a and plates VI-VII.