George Eliot's Life as related in her Letters and Journals. Arranged and Edited by her Husband, J. W. Cross. With Illustrations. In Three Volumes. Published in New York by Harper & Brothers, 1885.
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FIRST EDITION of the best and most affectionate biography of one of the greatest Victorian authors, George Eliot. This biography was written five years after Eliot's death and, as mentioned on the title page, is largely based on her correspondences and journals.
Size: 125 x 195 mm (approx.)
Condition:
Spines with a bit of rubbing but generally remain attractive with the gilt showing well. Joints fine with all boards securely attached. Boards all very good or better with occasional very light scuffing. Some shelf wear & wear to extremities as typical. Top page edge dulled, else generally very good. Page edges marbled in the same design as the boards and endpapers. Pencil ownership inscription to ffep of volumes 1 & 2 dated 'Christmas 1888' and signed 'Hattie W. Valentine' - perhaps the Hattie W. Valentine of West Virginia, USA, who lived from 1867 through to 1956 and so would have been 21 years old at the time of ownership, and most likely the original owner. Extremely clean through the text blocks. Some light ink transfer from the frontis portrait to the tissue guard and a bit of foxing affecting the first few leaves of volume 3.
