Dr. Wortle's School

London: Chapman and Hall, 1881. First English edition. vi, 237, [1]; vi, 246, 27-[28, ads dated Nov. 1880] pp. 2 vols. 8vo. Publisher's gray cloth, rear covers of both volumes decorated and titled in black (Sadleir's "freak" disposition), spines titled in gilt. Light shelfwear, vol. I front free endpaper pasted down, vol. II front free endpaper removed and hinges cracked, labels removed from pastedowns. First English edition. vi, 237, [1]; vi, 246, 27-[28, ads dated Nov. 1880] pp. 2 vols. 8vo. First edition in publisher's cloth of a novel that draws on Trollope's experiences in America, including his visit to Washington University in St. Louis, and his (truncated) acquaintance with the school's founder and chancellor, T.S. Eliot's grandfather. The publisher's binding on this copy is distinguished by the unorthodox placing of the title blocking on the rear covers. "The disposition of the blocking on the volumes of this novel is very curious and, so far as I know, unparalleled in nineteenth century publishing … I imagine the publishers were making an experiment in method in the interests of bookshop display" (Sadleir). Copies exist with various combinations of blocking on the front or rear covers — Sadleir suggests that those exhibiting the "freak" disposition of rear cover blocking are from the earliest binding-up. Preceded by the first American edition published by Harper, 31 December 1880. Sadleir, Trollope 59; Wolff 6773; Tinker 2243 (Inventory #: 312589)