Wood, Mrs Henry.

8vo (198 x 120mm.), 3 volumes, first edition, original publisher's violet blind-embossed cloth, lettered in gilt on spines, in modern violet buckram box, with an autograph letter signed ("Ellen Wood") from the author addressed to Miss Steale dated 4 February 1864 loosely inserted in the first volume

Miss Johnsons, The Deanery, early inscription on inside front cover; Frank J. Hogan, morocco book-label, sale, Parke-Bernet, 25 April 1945, lot 792; H. Bradley Martin, sale of Highly Important Literature from his library, Sotheby's New York, 30 April and 1 May 1990, lot 3325

Sadleir 3333

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

First edition in cloth of the best-selling novel of nineteenth-century England. Despite being rejected for publication by George Meredith for Chapman & Hall, East Lynne achieved fifteen editions in five years and a total of 110,250 copies were sold in its first twenty-five years.

Sadleir states that the first edition was bound in maroon cloth, and only twelve presentation copies of it were bound in violet cloth gilt (the colour preferred by the author, explained in a letter to the publisher dated 2 September 1861, quoted by Sadleir); the second edition of 1862 was wholly in violet cloth, as here. This is probably an unrecorded binding variant of the first edition, one of the later copies to be bound.