Esther Vanhomrigh

London: John Murray, 1891. From the Bart Auerbach Collection. Spine and adjacent half-inch front cover of vol. 1 faded to tan, front inner hinge of vol. 2 neatly tightened. 3 volumes, 8vo. Original diaper-grained red cloth lettered in gilt and blind. First edition of this historical novel about Jonathan Swift and the two Esthers in his life: Esther Vanhomrigh (the "Vanessa" of his "Cadenus and Vanessa," who conceived a hopeless passion for the author), and Esther Johnson (Swift's "Stella"). Addison and Steele and Pope also appear in the novel.

Presentation copy, inscribed by Woods on the half-title in vol. 1: "Wm. Slader with kind regards from Margaret Woods / September 1931." Teerink 1454 (omitted from Teerink-Scouten); Sadleir 3368; Wolff 7307. Aside from the vol. 1 fading, a very good copy. (BA).