THE TRUMPET-MAJOR. A Tale

(London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1880).

THE FIRST EDITION OF HARDY'S EPIC NOVEL OF THE NAPOLEONIC WAR, A VERY ATTRACTIVE SET IN ORIGINAL CLOTH. Purdy notes the edition was printed in only 1000 copies. The cover illustrations were designed by Hardy and feature two vignettes, one of an encampment on a river which leads down to the second of a mill. Hardy wrote the story to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Trafalgar, it was first printed in an abridged form in "Good Words". It is Hardy's only historical novel. Item #29016

3 volumes. First edition. 8vo, in the publisher's original and Purdy's primary binding of red cloth, the upper cover lettered and paneled to produce two vignettes from drawings by Hardy all in black, the spines lettered and decorated with sword and trumpet in gilt and black and with the two line ruled borders on the rear covers in blind. Housed in a blue cloth-coverd clamshell box with morocco label gilt lettered. [ii], vi, 296; [ii], vi, 276; [ii], vi, 259 pp. A very handsome set, the bindings attractive and fresh, expert and unobtrusive refurbishment at the spine tips, the text-block tight and quite clean and fresh, essentially no spotting whatsoever and only the lightest age mellowing, a very pleasing set indeed.

Price: $12,500.00