“I wish I knew –I wish I could make you out. Of course I know there are men who don’t like me–one can tell that at a glance. And there are others’ who are afraid of me: they think I want to marry them.” She smiled up at him frankly. “But I don’t think you dislike me–and you can’t possibly think I want to marry you.”
Here we offer the true first edition of Edith Wharton's absolutely wonderful American classic, The House of Mirth, published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1905, New York. Features first edition, first printing point of two blank leaves at rear or with two rear leaves of advertisements [this copy]: no priority established. (Garrison A12.I.a1.); incorrect Roman numeraling on title page ("MDCCCCV," rather than MCMV.) This was an attractive, expensive ($1.50) binding for the period, featuring gilted top of text block (to keep dust out,) and very early photographic plates of illustration paintings. The book comes with a dust jacket facsimile of early Scribner's oaktag wraps of the period, but here printed with archival inks on acid-free vellum-textured French art paper. It also comes with a printout of the original newspaper and magazine ads for the book.
Boards are lightly soiled and edgeworn, with a small moisture stain at upper left corner (please see pics.) Uninscribed front endpapers have a rice paper saddle added to gutter; hinges are solid; half-title page (page preceding title page bearing just the title) has a missing segment of text (see pic); replacement frontispiece tissue. Binding is very tight and square. Text and illustrations are very clean, bright, and crisp. 533 pages, plus 4 pages of Edith Wharton ads. Measures approximately 8 x 5-inches.
This very special first will make a great addition to your collection or a very special gift.
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