The Warden, Anthony Trollope — First Edition (Secondary Binding)

£1,000.00

The Warden, Anthony Trollope — First Edition (Secondary Binding)

Name: The Warden, Anthony Trollope — First Edition (Secondary Binding)
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4390
Price: 1000.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1855

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [iv], 336.

Condition Report: Good. The original publisher’s secondary cloth casing exhibits considerable age and handling, with darkening, soiling, and old moisture staining across both boards. The spine is significantly sunned, showing rubbing, minor fraying, and small losses at the head and tail, though the gilt lettering remains faintly legible. The binding is slightly cocked but remains reasonably tight and structurally sound for a mid-Victorian novel. Internally, the endpapers and preliminary leaves display moderate foxing and browning, with scattered spotting occasionally extending into the text block. The edges are toned, yet the leaves remain largely supple and free from major tears.

Catalogue Note: This intriguing copy presents a bibliographical anomaly highly prized by Trollope collectors: an original first edition text block cased within a later secondary, or "remainder," publisher's binding. While the title page bears the true first edition imprint, the blind-stamped cloth cover displays a later firm partnership name ("Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green") active around 1863 and 1864. The cover also features a stamped price of "Three Shillings and Sixpence," matching the new, cheaper editions marketed during this period, indicating the publisher bound leftover sheets to sell at a uniform rate alongside the newly advertised sequel seen on the rear board.

Adding to its unique character, the front free endpaper features an embossed blind-stamp from W. H. Smith & Son, alongside an early ownership signature reading "Geo. Edwards, 1855." This date presents a fascinating contradiction to the circa 1860s secondary casing, suggesting the original flyleaf may have been retained when the book was later bound, or the early owner dated an older set of sheets.

First editions of Trollope's breakthrough novel in any publisher's cloth are notably scarce. Surviving copies in these secondary publisher bindings offer a vital glimpse into mid-Victorian remainder practices and market adaptations.

The Warden is the celebrated first Barsetshire novel and the first of Trollope's novels to be set in England. It introduces the gentle, unassuming Septimus Harding, the warden of Hiram's Hospital, who finds himself thrust into the center of a national scandal when an overzealous reformer targets the charity's wealth. A masterpiece of subtle characterization and institutional critique, the novel explores the quiet tragedies of moral conscience caught within the unrelenting machinery of public opinion and the Victorian church.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Anthony Trollope

Book Publisher: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans (Cover: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green)

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Classic Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 336

Book Publication Year: 1855

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Publisher's Cloth)

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: Chronicles of Barsetshire

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.