The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling. In Six Volumes. By Henry Fielding. London: A. Millar, 1749.
THE VERY SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF THIS MASTERPIECE OF 18TH CENTURY LITERATURE: ONE OF THE THREE GREATS OF THE PERIOD ALONGSIDE GULLIVER'S TRAVELS AND ROBINSON CRUSOE.
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The demand for Tom Jones when it first came out was so great that copies of the first edition and most of the second edition were sold out before they were even released. That's particularly remarkable given that these were print runs of 2,000 and 1,500, a rather large print run for the period, especially for a six volume book! Surviving copies in contemporary bindings are notoriously rare. This set is a wonderful unrestored example of one of the most important literary works of the 18th century.
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Size: 105 x 171 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[(2), t.p., iii-lxiii, 214pp, (2)]; [(1), t.p., 324pp, (1)]; [(2), t.p., 370pp, (3)]; [(2), t.p., 312pp, (1)]; [(2), t.p., 294pp, (2)]; [(1), t.p., 304pp, (1)]
Contemporary full calf bindings, each volume retaining its tooled morocco label and gilt volume numbering. The boards are ruled in gilt and spine compartments are delineated with gilt between raised bands. The set is in near original condition which certainly has its charm, though some sympathetic restoration would really elevate this set. There have been some historic attempts at restoration along the edges of boards / recornering etc, these have generally been done rather well and are very difficult to notice. The bindings are rubbed with some losses to the extremities. All joints are cracked, with several boards detached (six boards detached in total of the eleven present, others fragile). The rear board of volume six is lacking but all others are present. There are attached bookplates to front pastedowns and one or two attached to ffep. The bookplates are detached in volume one. Text blocks mildly toned throughout as expected but generally presentable with all text legible without loss of sense and so this set really is a prime candidate for restoration or potentially rebinding, though it would be nice to preserve the contemporary bindings as sets in contemporary bindings like this are very scarce. There is a bespoke slipcase made for this set but this has joints split and is rubbed etc. Some light pencil marginalia in places in text block, not obfuscating. All blanks/endpapers are original.
