Lorna Doone
Sampson Low, 1869.
First edition. Three volumes. Publisher's original blue cloth, vols I and II in finely ribbed cloth, vol III in sand grained cloth (no priority). Blind ruled borders to covers, gilt titles to spine. A near fine set, with just trivial wear to the head of the spine but no repairs to the cloth. Contemporary gift inscription to title, and blank of vol I partially washed, otherwise internally clean with the hinges of each volume unobtrusively strengthened. An exceptional copy.
Lorna Doone, the work on which Blackmore's popularity and significant literary standing in the latter half of the nineteenth century entirely rests, had a somewhat inauspicious start. Having struggled to find a publisher, it was eventually issued in an edition of 500 copies of which, in spite of good reviews, only some 300 were sold. A year later, a one volume cheap edition was published, which was a great success, and the work has scarcely been out of print since.
It has long since been regarded as one of the rarest of the major nineteenth century novels in original cloth, especially so in such exemplary condition.
Stock ID: 41760
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