Hardy, Thomas

The Woodlanders. Macmillan, 1889, later reprint, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ('To | Florence Henniker | from | Thomas Hardy | Sept. 1893'), late twentieth century half morocco by Zaehnsdorf, top edge gilt; Jude the Obscure. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., 1896, first edition, original cloth gilt, upper hinge split, head of spine slightly torn; Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Macmillan, 1926, one of 1500 copies, illustrations by Vivien Gribble, original cloth, slight marks; together with 19 others including a complete set of The Collected Letters of Thomas Hardy; mostly 8vo, occasional spotting and browning (22)

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, 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."

A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY HARDY TO THE AUTHORESS WITH WHOM HE HAD FALLEN DEEPLY IN LOVE AND WHO WAS PARTLY THE INSPIRATION FOR THE CHARACTER OF SUE BRIDEHEAD IN JUDE THE OBSCURE.

Purdy notes, within a lengthy appendix to his bibliographical study, that "it was a friendship that meant much to [Hardy] at a dark and embittered time and lends meaning to his last novel and a number of his poems'. Sending two books on 16 September 1893, Hardy wrote "...I send you, my dear Mrs Henniker, The Woodlanders and Desperate Remedies - which you thought worth having, though I hardly think so... Would that I could write all my books over again: I might make them worth reading..." (see Purdy and Millgate, The Collected Letters of Thomas Hardy, Volume II, Oxford, 1980, pp. 32-33). Henniker's copy of Desperate Remedies sold in these rooms in 2001 (The Library of Frederick B. Adams, Jr., 7 November 2001, lot 380).