The Trumpet Major. John Loveday, a Soldier in the War with Napoleon and Robert His Brother, First Mate in the Merchant Service. A Tale. With an Etching by H. Macbeth-Raeburn and a Map of Wessex. [Vol. IX of The Wessex Novels]. REMARKABLY BRIGHT COPY

Osgood McIlvaine,, [1897]. 8vo., First Edition thus, on laid paper, with an etched frontispiece (original tissue guard present) and a full-page map in the text, endpapers moderately spotted; original series binding of decorative dark-green ribbed cloth gilt, 'TH' monogram blocked in gilt on upper cover, gilt back, gilt top, uncut, a remarkably bright, clean copy. Osgood's 'Wessex Novels' is the first uniform and complete edition of Hardy's works. 'The edition is an important one. The text of every novel was thoroughly and carefully revised, the topography (names and distances) corrected where necessary, chapters frequently retitled, and much rewriting done. In addition Hardy prepared a special preface for each volume' (Purdy p.281); here the Preface is particularly important for its indication of sources. Each of the sixteen volumes has an etched frontispiece by Macbeth-Raeburn depicting a scene from the novel drawn on the spot (in this case 'The Budmouth Harbour of the Story') and a map of Wessex drawn by Hardy himself. In terms of book production, these are undoubtedly the finest trade editions of Hardy's works. All volumes in this series are scarce, especially in this condition. See Purdy, pp.35, 281.