Tales of Three Cities, Henry James — 1st UK Edition
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Publication: London, Macmillan and Co., 1884.
Formatting: 8vo, pp. [vi], 309, [3].
Condition Report: Very Good. Secondary brown cloth binding remains firm and intact, showing general shelf-wear typical for its age, including light rubbing to the boards and gentle bumping to the spine ends and corners. The double-rule borders and spine lettering are pleasantly distinct, avoiding heavy fading. Internally, the hinges are solid, and the text block sits squarely in the binding. The pages are largely clean and bright, with only occasional scattered spotting and minor age-toning to the margins. The edges remain in good order, rounding out a highly presentable and structurally sound nineteenth-century volume.
Catalogue Note: First UK edition, published by Macmillan and Co. in 1884, following closely on the heels of the American release. Notably, this copy presents in a secondary binding specifically produced for The Times Book Club, making it a fascinating historical artefact of late nineteenth-century British circulating libraries and publishing distribution.
The book bears the neat, historic ownership signature of "Charles J. Bathurst" to the front free endpaper. While primary bindings of this work typically feature different decorative cloth, this secondary state serves as an excellent reference point for Henry James collectors and bibliophiles interested in Victorian library history and trans-Atlantic print variants.
Tales of Three Cities gathers three captivating novellas by the master of psychological realism, Henry James. Comprising "Lady Barberina," "A New England Winter," and "The Impressions of a Cousin," the collection vividly draws upon James's own cosmopolitan travels. The narratives span the aristocratic drawing-rooms of London, the snowy streets of Boston, and the bustling avenues of New York, exploring the nuanced social codes, trans-Atlantic contrasts, and intimate domestic dramas that came to define James's most enduring fiction.
Book Condition: Very Good
Book Authors: Henry James
Book Publisher: Macmillan and Co.
Book Language: English
Narrative Type: Fiction
Genre: Classic Fiction
Book edition: First Edition
Signed: No
Book Pages: 309
Book Publication Year: 1884
Book Publication Date:
Book Binding: Cloth
Illustrator: None
Book Series: N/A
Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom
Book Dimensions:
Book Condition Guide
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| New | A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage. |
| As New | The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years. |
| Fine | The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked. |
| Near Fine | The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition. |
| Very Good | The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present. |
| Good | A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy. |
| Fair | A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity. |
| Poor | A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance. |
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