Literary Anecdotes of the Nineteenth Century: Contributions Towards A Literary History of the Period. 2 Vols

London, New York: Hodder & Stoughton; Dodd Mead & Company, 1895. First edition. Hardcover. good- to good condition. Large Octavo. xii, 627 [7], 20 plates, xvi, 495pp., 20 plates. Original red cloth with gilt lettering and decorative ruling on spines. Frontispiece engraving with tissue guard. "The editors hope to provide... a considerable amount of fresh matter, illustrating the life and work of British authors in the Nineteenth Century. To a large extent they rely upon manuscript material, but use will be made of practically inaccessible texts, and of fugitive writings. While leading authors will receive due attention, much space will be devoted to the less-known writers of the period. It is intended to supply Biographies, Letters hitherto unpublished, additions from Manuscript sources to published works, together with a series of full Bibliographies of the writings of the greater authors." (Preface). Some wear along edges of binding with spines sunned. Light cracks on gutter of first inside front cover. Tissue guard with some chipping along edges. Blocks lightly age-toned.