The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
- London: Printed for A. Millar, 1749
London: Printed for A. Millar, 1749. First edition. Very Good +. First edition of one of the great novels of the eighteenth century, which “established the tradition of the comic novel in English” (ODNB). Six volumes in three, twelvemo. lxii, [2, errata], 214; [ii], 324; [ii], 370; [ii], 312; [ii], 294; [ii], 304 pp. Complete, but for final blanks. Marginal chip to leaf C12 in volume six, not touching text. Bound in an unrestored, contemporary binding. Front joint cracked on volume one, holding by the cords. Lacking the rear free end paper in volume one. Minor chipping to the crowns, heaviest on volume three. Housed in three custom purple morocco pull-off boxes and chemises by Mounteney. A well-preserved, unrestored copy, Very Good+
This set has all the points to distinguish it from the virtually identical second edition which followed: vol. I, errata leaf after contents; vol. VI, B5 unsigned; and the following cancels, all signed with their respective volume numbers: vol. I, B9-10; vol. II, B4-5; vol. III, H8-10, M3, Q11; and vol. V, N8. This copy also has a cancel at vol. II, N12 (not called for in Rothschild).
Provenance: Baron Carlingford (bookplate); Harold and Mildred Greenhill (bookplates); H. Bradley Martin (bookplate and sale, Sotheby’s April 30, 1990, lot 2840); Irwin Silver (Sotheby’s April 26, 2005, making $9,000).
One of the earliest and most successful examples of the British novel, particularly the comedic genre. All 2,000 copies of the first printing were subscribed prior to the official release, prompting two more printings in 1749. Tom Jones was a bestseller in its day and has never gone out of print; it continues to inspire and amuse new generations of readers. Very Good +.
This set has all the points to distinguish it from the virtually identical second edition which followed: vol. I, errata leaf after contents; vol. VI, B5 unsigned; and the following cancels, all signed with their respective volume numbers: vol. I, B9-10; vol. II, B4-5; vol. III, H8-10, M3, Q11; and vol. V, N8. This copy also has a cancel at vol. II, N12 (not called for in Rothschild).
Provenance: Baron Carlingford (bookplate); Harold and Mildred Greenhill (bookplates); H. Bradley Martin (bookplate and sale, Sotheby’s April 30, 1990, lot 2840); Irwin Silver (Sotheby’s April 26, 2005, making $9,000).
One of the earliest and most successful examples of the British novel, particularly the comedic genre. All 2,000 copies of the first printing were subscribed prior to the official release, prompting two more printings in 1749. Tom Jones was a bestseller in its day and has never gone out of print; it continues to inspire and amuse new generations of readers. Very Good +.