[Hardy, Thomas] Tess of the D'Urbervilles

London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co, 1891. First Edition. First Edition. 3 volumes. Full contemporary polished tan cloth with double fillet gilt borders on both covers, ending in the corners with floral medallion, side edges with a gilt stamped design, two for panels on spine with morocco labels, gilt design work on the others. FIRST EDITION, FIRST IMPRESSION OF Thomas Hardy's most acclaimed work. Half titles present, volumes 2 & 3 with final blanks, and volume 2 with initial blank. Original covers bound in at the end. TEG. With first impression issue points: Volume I: p.[iv] "1891" present; p.[v] "have it said"; p.45 "her skin is/as sumple"; (truncated) p.[264] final full-stop present; Volume II: p.[iv] "1891" present; p.58 "Valasquez"; p.155 "seampstress"; p.199 "XXV"; and p.234 "it's husband's"; Volume III: p.[vi] "1891" present; p.14 line endings comprise "towards", "but", "On", "al-", "hitherto" and "a", and p.112 "are ye doing"; p.160 line endings comprise "than", "deviations", "domesticity,", "vale", "curve.", "light" and "was"; p.198 "summit of the road"; p.252 line endings comprise "and", "foul", "bear" and "And", p.270 "sisters-in-law"; p.275 "piteously"; p.277 no page number present, and p.[278] no final full-stop. A lovely copy, near fine with slight wear along the outer joints, labels slightly scuffed. (Inventory #: 6172)