Trollope, Anthony | The novel that popularised the Chronicles of Barsetshire series

Property from an Important American Collection

Trollope, Anthony

Barchester Towers. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans & Roberts, 1857

3 volumes, 8vo. Half-title in volume I, brown endpapers with publisher's advertisements (Sadleir's second binding with Whiteside's Italy, etc.), with "tattooed" for "tabooed" on p. 269 in volume II. Publisher's light brown cloth by Frederick R. Jones, spine gilt; spine very lightly sunned. Collector's cloth slipcase with folding chemise.

First edition, the bibliographer Michael Sadleir's personal copy, and the Bradley Martin copy.

On the creation of this book, Trollope wrote: "In the writing of Barchester Towers I took great delight. The bishop and Mrs. Proudie were very real to me, as were also the troubles of the archdeacon and the loves of Mr. Slope".

Originally intended to be a short story, Trollope changed his mind following a hiatus having written Chapter VIII. Because of this break in writing, from February 1855 to May 1856, literary scholar John Sutherland has observed some minor inconsistencies in the later text. The success of the longer novel resulted in Trollope continuing the Chronicles of Barsetshire series.

Michael Sadleir's 1925 bibliography remains the principle guide to the works of Anthony Trollope.

REFERENCES:

Sadleir 5 (second binding); Wolff 6766

PROVENANCE:

Frederick R. Jones (booklabel) — Michael Sadleir (bookplate) — H. Bradley Martin (bookplate; his sale, Sotheby's New York, 30 April-1 May 1990, lot 3218, achieving $17,000)