THE VICAR OF BULLHAMPTON. A Novel

1870. Woods, H.. With Illustrations. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1870. Original purple straight-grain-morocco cloth.

First one-volume, first hard-bound, and first obtainable American edition of this novel "written chiefly with the idea of exciting not only pity but also sympathy for a fallen woman" [per Trollope's autobiography]. Carry Brattle, the Bullhampton miller's daughter, seduced and then rejected by a lover, was "exiled" to London with her illegitimate child -- who in turn would years later be accused of a murder; the town Vicar, who had earlier befriended the young boy, steps in to solve the case by finding the real murderers. For decades, it was believed (per Sadleir) that Lippincott's authorized edition and Harper's pirated edition came out at about the same time, May-June 1870. But then Walter Smith's 2002 bibliography told a different story. Keeping up with UK serialization, Lippincott published a Part I in wrappers in September 1869, and a Part II in wrappers in April 1870 -- both impossibly scarce today. Lippincott then sold the rights to use the plates to Harper who (legally) published the present one-volume edition on May 27th, after which Lippincott finally published its own one-volume edition in June. This Harper edition is the earliest American edition that is ever apt to be seen by most collectors. This copy is in purple ("greyish-red?") straight-grain-morocco cloth, one of numerous colors and grains used without precedence (Harper also issued copies in wrappers). It is in near-fine condition (a trace of wear at the head of the spine, purple faded to light brown on the spine, as always). Smith 25; also see Sadleir (TROLLOPE) 33.