GOOD to VERY GOOD CONDITION

This sale is for a vintage hardback edition entitled “The Well-Beloved,” subtitled “A Sketch of a Temperament,” by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), with a map of Wessex.

It was published by Macmillan and Co., Limited, of London, in 1903 and is the first printing of the New Edition, a uniform edition of Thomas Hardy works “The Wessex Novels”.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was an English novelist, short story writer, and poet.  Most of his novels were set in the semi-imaginary county of Wessex (Dorset), with Casterbridge being Dorchester and Shaston being Shaftesbury, and consists of characters struggling against their circumstances and passions.  Although most people know him for his stories, his poetry, first published in his fifties, has come to be as well regarded as his novels.

The main setting of this Wessex novel was The Isle of Slingers, a caricature of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, and concerns characters struggling against their circumstances and passions.

The camera flash makes this book look light blue - it is in fact navy blue! 

The book measures 7.75 inches x 5.25 inches and has 338 pages which are hand-cut to all sides.

The book is in good, neat condition for its age, with wear/bumps and is a little grubby/faded to the original cloth hardback cover, and light foxing inside the covers with the odd creased corner.  The binding is good with no loose or missing pages.  There is a previous owner’s signature at the front and no other ink or pencil markings in the book.  The gold on the front board and spine is good.  There is no dust-jacket.

A wonderful vintage edition.

COMBINED POSTAGE - ALL BIDDERS: We offer 20% off the total postage & packing/‘shipping’ for additional items after the cost of the heaviest book – please wait for a combined invoice.

Please click on “View Sellers Other Items” towards the top right hand side of this page for other vintage editions. 

Buyer to pay postage & packing

For UK Postage: 2nd Class/Parcels = £3.10;

or 1st Class = £3.90

European Union Postage: = 6.95 GB Pounds

USA Postage: Air Mail (USA) = 13.45 GB Pounds

Rest of the World Postage: Air Mail (Anywhere else in the World) = 10.70 GB Pounds

Surface Mail (Anywhere in the World) = 13.20 GB Pounds

Unwinsbooks have held down shipping prices from 2013-2020 in spite of small increases in postage costs.  However, Royal Mail Prices dramatically changed on 1 July 2020, as a result of exceptional cost increases outside of their control, so we are reluctantly having to pass on pricing increases for parcels being sent overseas (primarily USA, New Zealand, Australia and the Rest of the World). 

These costs are a direct result of: 

• An increase of more than 100% in the fees the US Postal Service (USPS) charges for the delivery of international mail.

• Securing air freight at inflated market costs due to a 95% reduction in air passenger flights globally. This has not affected domestic or postage within the EU.

“Royal Mail, always aim to deliver the best value international services. We fully recognise that these changes are significant. This was a decision we reluctantly took but is necessary in view of the increased costs borne by Royal Mail.”

If the Royal Mail reduce their charges in the future (in particular what they term “Temporary Air Carrier Supplement Pricing”) unwinsbooks will reduce the international costs accordingly.

Unwinsbooks always obtain a proof of postage receipt from the Royal Mail.  Packages over Royal Mail size rules may be sent by courier (customer will be informed).

Goods will be WELL PACKAGED by Unwins Books and dispatched once payment has cleared.

PAYMENT FOR UK BIDDERS: By Paypal, UK cheque, or postal order. 

POSTAGE UK BIDDERS:  If you require registered post - "sign for" - then this will be an extra £1.10 per package (UK purchasers only).

PAYMENT FOR OVERSEAS BIDDERS: By Paypal Only.  Sorry, but overseas (non UK) personal checks and International Money Orders are NOT accepted due to huge bank charges.

POSTAGE OVERSEAS BIDDERS:  Please note that Surface Mail is very slow (6 to 12 weeks).