Hardy, Thomas. THE WORKS OF THOMAS HARDY IN PROSE AND VERSE. London: MacMillan, 1912-1913. The Wessex Edition, with frontispiece to each volume and folding map of Wessex to the rear of each volume. 8vo, 21 volumes (of 24, last few volumes of verse published later between 1919 and 1931) volumes. First 18 volumes contains prose and the remainder contain verse. Bound by Zaehnsdorf in full polished red calf, t.e.g., gilt-ruled dentelles, marbled endpapers. *************** "The Wessex Edition is in every sense the definitive edition of Hardy's work and the last authority in questions of text" (Richard Little Purdy, Thomas Hardy A Bibliographical Study, 1979, p. 286.) For this edition, Hardy revised his novels throughout for the last time – Bookplates of Thomas Cochran to front pastedowns. Here offered from the collection of Scott Murphy.

Most spines have been repaired at hinges and with new labels, one spine lifting away, one board holding by cords, two boards with stains and/or defects to leather, some boards reattached at the gutter. A very attractive wine color calf dyed by Zaehnsdorf, though the dye used must have been a bit acidic and caused the spines and edges to tone and in some cases to become brittle. The contents of the volumes are clean. Sold as bindings, as-is.