THE HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING in a Charles Lewis binding
London: A. Millar, 1749. Second Edition. Hardcover. Six volumes bound in early full paneled calf leather with gilt-decorated boards and elaborately gilt-decorated spines with contrasting morocco spine labels: lxiii, [i], 214; [2] 324; [2] 370; [2] 312; [2] 294; [2] 304 pages. Binding with the small leather label on the front pastedown of Charles Lewis, one of the best bookbinders of the early 19th century and employer of Francis Bedford, who took over Lewis's shop after his death. Considered to be the first true novel in English. Second edition, printed from reset type of the first edition, correcting a number of minor mistakes. Cross III, pages 316-317. Often mistakenly referred to as the second issue of the first edition. Probably printed on 13 April 1749, the first edition having been printed only about a month prior, with the errata corrected and the table of contents for all six volumes preceding the text in the first volume. Both editions were in circulation on the date of publication. Light, scattered foxing. Rubbing to joints, covers firm. Near Fine in a handsome Charles Lewis binding. Item #017300
Cross describes the need for this edition so soon after the first: "Immediate revision was rendered imperative on account of the numerous errors that crept into the text owing to the haste with which the novel had been at last put through the press.... Type and paper are the same and the paging is kept uniform with the edition having the errata.... The table of contents is re-spaced so as to extend into the page formerly given to the errata.... Scores of individual pages differ either in the number of lines or in the last words and phrases."
Price: $3,000.00