UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE. A Rural Painting of the Dutch School

1873. New York: Holt & Williams, 1873. Endpaper ads dated May 10, 1873. Original cream cloth decorated in black.

First American Edition, first issue, of Thomas Hardy's first book appearance in North America. This was his second novel, initially published in two volumes in London in June 1872; however, Hardy's first novel, DESPERATE REMEDIES, was not published in America until 1874. The first issue, as here, has both the title page and binding listing the publisher as Holt & Williams, and has endpaper ads dated in 1873; by the following year, the publisher's name was Henry Holt & Co. This is a good-plus copy, with a darkened spine, moderate cover soil, and wear at the spine ends. The initial owner, of Washington PA, put his signature and the date "6-21-73" not only on the front flyleaf but also on the front cover; while this writing on the front cover would be regarded by most as a flaw, such pride of ownership of a first published book, just six weeks after publication, would be regarded as a plus by some. Not a great-looking copy, but the initial Holt & Williams edition of this book is scarce. See Purdy p. 8. (Inventory #: 15592)