The Tragic Comedians, George Meredith — 1st Edition

£130.00

The Tragic Comedians, George Meredith — 1st Edition

Name: The Tragic Comedians, George Meredith — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5745
Price: 130.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Write Review

In stock

£130.00

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Publication: London, Chapman and Hall, Limited, 1880

Formatting: 8vo, 2 vols., pp. [iv], 199, [1]; [iv], 181, [1].

Condition Report: Good. The original olive-brown publisher's cloth remains largely intact but displays the expected exterior wear of a frequently handled nineteenth-century circulating library volume. Both boards show moderate rubbing and scuffing, with the front board of the first volume bearing a prominent, albeit well-worn and partially chipped, pink Mudie's Select Library lending label. The spines are darkened with some fraying and minor loss to the cloth at the head and tail, while the gilt lettering has slightly dulled. The corners are bumped and slightly turned in. Internally, the binding remains sound though slightly tender, typical of double-decker novels of this era. The text block exhibits general age-toning and mild, intermittent foxing, but the pages remain largely clean and legible throughout without any major tears or defacement.

Catalogue Note: This is a true first edition, first issue, with the original title pages dated 1880. Unillustrated as issued, the work is presented in its original publisher's cloth. The text was printed in London by R. Clay, Sons, & Taylor.

Of particular note is the striking provenance denoting its Victorian circulating library history. The front board bears the original pink paper label of Mudie's Select Library, specifically from their Manchester branch at Barton Arcade. Mudie's was the premier lending library of the era and heavily dictated the publishing formats of the nineteenth century; finding original cloth copies with their lending labels still affixed offers an evocative, tangible link to Victorian reading culture.

First editions of The Tragic Comedians in their original, unsophisticated cloth are scarce on the open market, as many ex-library copies were subsequently rebound by later owners in half-leather.

Based upon the real-life tragic love affair and subsequent fatal duel of the prominent German-Jewish socialist Ferdinand Lassalle and Helene von Dönniges, The Tragic Comedians is a masterful psychological study of character, fate, and hubris. Meredith crafts a gripping narrative around 'Alvan' and 'Clotilde', examining the complex interplay of politics, passion, and the societal constraints of the nineteenth century, culminating in an inevitable and devastating climax.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: George Meredith

Book Publisher: Chapman and Hall, Limited

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Modern Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 388

Book Publication Year: 1880

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

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.