Reid, Captain Mayne

The Quadroon: or, a Lover's adventures in Louisiana. London: George W. Hyde, 1856, 8vo (210 x 140 mm.), first edition, 3 volumes, half-titles, original purple cloth with paper labels on spine [Wolff 5753, but with unrecorded variant binding], recased with new endpapers, sunned, rubbed, some browning and spotting; No Quarter! London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co, 1888, 3 volumes, 8vo (196 x 140 mm.), first edition, half-titles, original dark blue cloth, lettered in blind on upper covers and gilt on spines, [Sadleir 2026, variant binding], recased with new endpapers; The Maroon. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1862, 8vo (194 x 121mm.), first edition, 3 volumes, publisher's catalogue at the end of volume 3 (apparently earlier state, as in Wolff's copy), original brown wavy-grain cloth decorated in blind and gilt, brown cloth cases and matching slipcase, [Sadleir 2025; Wolff 5746], occasional slight spotting but a fine copy; The Wood-rangers (from the French of Luis de Bellemare.). London: Hurst and Blackett, 1860, 8vo (188 x 124mm.), first edition, 3 volumes, wood-engraved frontispieces in each volume, advertisements, original grey-purple morocco cloth decorated in blind and lettered in gilt [Sadleir 2034; Wolff 5763[, some spotting, spines slightly faded; The Child Wife: a Tale of the Two Worlds. London: Ward, Lock, & Tyler, 1868, 8vo (199 x 126mm.), first edition, 3 volumes, original green fine-morocco cloth decorated in blind and lettered in gilt, [Sadleir 2019, this copy; Wolff 5730], very slight wear to edges of binding otherwise fine; The Flag of Distress: a Story of the South Sea. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1876, 8vo (188 x 125mm.), first edition, 3 volumes, half-titles in volumes 2 and 3, original blue diagonal fine-ribbed cloth blocked in black and lettered in gilt, W.H. Smith & Son blind-stamp, [Sadleir 2021; Wolff 5736], very neat repairs to spines, some slight wear, slight spotting, remains of ownership inscription on upper paste-down of volume 1; The Giraffe Hunters. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1867, 8vo (188 x 127mm.), first edition, 3 volumes, half-titles, advertisements at the end of volume 3, original blue pansy-faced cloth, spines gilt,  [Wolff 5739], minor staining and browning; The Free Lances. A Romance of the Mexican Valley. London: Remington & Co., 1881, 8vo (181 x 123mm.), half-titles, original pinkish-ochre fine-ribbed cloth, blocked and lettered in gilt, floral endpapers [Sadleir 2022; Wolff 5738], some repairs to spines (24)

[The Child Wife:] Lewis W. Perrin, book-plate; Michael Sadleir, book-label
[The Free Lances:] Henry Frederick, 6th Marquess of Bath, bookplates

 

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where 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."

Reid notes that the publication of The Quadroon, which has an anti-slavery theme, was delayed by the "interference of a well-known work, which treated of similar scenes and subjects". That other work was, of course, Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852). Sadleir suggests that the variant binding of No Quarter! found here is "probably of later date". The Child Wife was based on the author's own romance with his wife, with whom he fell in love when she was about thirteen.