This Modern Library book, #80.2 in the series, Henry Esmond by William M. Thackeray includes a preface and a bio note on the author.  See the photos for the front flap. 615 pages plus lists of ML Giants and regular titles.

The book has a Toledano has an 8 binding, D or Kent endpapers, and a g jacket.  The jacket inverse refers to 278 titles, dating it to fall 1941. There is no copyright page date.  It is the first of two ML editions (not a first printing, though).

The book cover has clear gilt except the torchbearer on the spine is fading, a reasonably smooth red topstain and slightly bumped top corners.  Fanning the pages, I noted no underling or marginalia, no offensive odor, and the binding is firm.  The unclipped dust jacket ($.95) is complete with no chips, light edgewear, and corner nicks. A strip of clear tape was placed along the spine top to prevent chipping.  See photos

Want to preserve your investment from additional soil and chipping?  Add $1.00 for a cut to size acid free paper backed Brodart archival quality dust jacket protector or $.50 for regular Brodart jacket protector, per book.

Modern Library fan or collector?  Check out Collecting the Modern Library for the most informative site for Modern Library fans: http://www.modernlib.com/