ONE OF 500 COPIES
The Bostonians
Macmillan, 1886.
First edition. Three volumes. Publisher's original dark blue cloth lettered in gilt to the spine with black ruled borders to the upper cover. Terminal adverts to vols II and III. A near fine set with hinges in volume I and the front hinge of vol II showing superficial splits. Slight toning to the spine, internally fresh. An exceptional well preserved set.
One of only 500 copies of the first edition of one of James's best known novels and the author's own favourite. F. R. Leavis claimed the book was "one of the two most brilliant novels in the language," the other being James's The Portrait of a Lady.
Provenance: Wittersham House (bookplate to each pastedown), probably therefore the copy belonging to Hon. Alfred Lyttleton (1857-1913, cricketer and politician), who moved to the house in 1907 and knew James in the 1880s.
Edel & Lawrence A28a.
Stock ID: 41786
£17,500.00
