Trollope, Anthony | The Sadleir copy of "Orley Farm," the author's favorite of his novels

Trollope, Anthony

Orley Farm. London: Chapman and Hall, 1862

2 vols., 8vo. Half-titles, 40 engraved plates by J.E. Millais; plates slightly toned. Publisher's maroon cloth, spines gilt; spines sunned, head and foot of spine bumped, a fine copy. Collector's quarter morocco slipcase, folding chemise.

First edition, later issue, of Trollope's favorite of his novels — Trollope bibliographer Michael Sadleir's copy.

George Orwell stated that the book contained: "one of the most brilliant descriptions of a lawsuit in English fiction."

Orley Farm was first serialized by Chapman and Hall from March 1861 to October 1862. Each part was illustrated by John Everett Millais. When the two volume set was published in 1862, unsold parts were used to make the book form edition. Thus, Orley Farm is notoriously bibliographically complex, and what is perhaps of particular note here is that some of the issue points in the present lot represent variances from the Sadlier bibliography.

REFERENCES:

Sadleir 13

PROVENANCE:

Michael Sadleir, bibliographer (bookplate) — W.W. Yardley (bookplate) — Dr. Gerald E. Slater (his sale, Christie's New York, 12 February 1982, lot 463)