George Eliot's Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life, 1871–1872. [Four volumes with Original Wrappers Bound.]

ELIOT, George (1819–1880). Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1871–1872.

FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING. Complete in four volumes, retaining the original wrappers, title pages, and advertisements from the earlier serial publication in wraps. Four volumes, complete. Octavo (8vo). Contemporary three-quarter dark blue crushed morocco over blue linen boards, divided by a single gilt fillet; the spines with five raised bands, ruled and lettered in gilt with date 1871; marbled endpapers and top edges gilt. 

Middlemarch was initially issued in eight paper-bound books between December 1871 and December 1872, with the pagination arranged so that each pair of Books formed one volume of the complete four-volume work: Book I, Miss Brooke, appeared in December 1871 and is dated 1871; the remaining Books appeared during 1872.

Middlemarch's interwoven study of provincial society, marriage, ambition, political reform, medicine, and the restricted opportunities available to women established Eliot’s position among the foremost English novelists. It remains her acknowledged masterpiece and one of the defining novels of nineteenth-century English literature.

Provenance: From the library of William Karl Dick (1888–1953), chairman of the National Sugar Refining Company and grandson of one of the pioneers of the American sugar industry, with his ownership stamp, “William K. Dick, Islip, Long Island.” Dick resided at Allen Winden Farm, his family’s Gilded Age country estate at Islip, and entered the national spotlight through his marriage to Madeleine Force Astor, survivor of the Titanic and widow of John Jacob Astor IV. The appearance of his stamp in similarly bound first editions of other works by George Eliot indicates that this handsome set formed part of a thoughtfully assembled Eliot collection.

The contents are clean, unmarked, and remarkably well preserved, with light, even age-toning; Near Fine. Bindings are sound and square across all four volumes. Gilt at top edges and on spines remains bright. Volumes I and III have benefited from professional restoration to the spines and hinges. The spines of Volumes II and IV show moderate wear and small chips at the crowns and tails, with a larger chip at the crown of Volume II. A Near Fine interior with VG+ exteriors on 2 volumes and Good+ spines on the other 2 volumes. Overall, a Very Good First Edition set of Middlemarch preserving the original serial wrappers and advertisements.

Baker & Ross A10.1.a(2); Sadleir 815.

[Attributes: First Edition Thus; Hard Cover; Four Volume Set.]