Literature
HARDY, Thomas.
The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid.
Harper's Franklin Square Library, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1883. First edition, second impression. Small folio, 3 full page illustrations by C.S. Reinhart. INSCRIBED in ink on front flyleaf, "Uncorrected by the author./ Thomas Hardy./ May 14: 1916."; additional postcard pasted down, addressed to Clement Shorter, "With best wishes./ T.H." Shorter's bookplate on front pastedown. Bound in dark blue half morocco over marbled boards, spine lettered in gilt; paper toned and somewhat brittle with a few chips to first page of magazine issue.
'The Romantic Adventures of a Milkmaid' was first published in the Graphic, Summer Number (pub. 25 June), 1883, with 4 full-page illustrations by C.S. Reinhart. It was also published in America in Harper's Weekly, in 7 weekly instalments, 23 June-4 August 1883, with 3 of Reinhart's 4 illustrations [...] It was the first of many contributions to the Graphic. Simultaneous publication was arranged in America in Harper's Weekly, and Harper & Brothers, to protect themselves from an immediate pirating of the story, published it in their cheap Franklin Square Library 29 June 1883 before more than a single instalment (out of 7) had appeared in the Weekly. The types for the two printings, save a little resetting at one or two points, are identical. There was a second impression (called 'Second Edition') The story was widely pirated, nevertheless, and more frequently and cheaply reprinted in America through many years than perhaps any other work of Hardy's. (Purdy, pp.48-49)
Price: £ 1500
US Dollar Price: $ 2260
Stock Number: 47668