The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Vol. I. By Laurence Sterne, 1767.

An eighteenth-century sixth edition of the opening volume of Laurence Sterne’s celebrated comic novel, whose digressions, eccentric characters and playful typography made it one of the most inventive works of English literature. This volume introduces Tristram’s unconventional account of his life and family, and retains the striking mourning leaf, printed solid black on both sides in remembrance of Parson Yorick. With an engraved frontispiece after William Hogarth, in a period full calf binding.

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, Vol. I. By Laurence Sterne (uncredited).

Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall, London. 1767. The Sixth edition. Vol. I only.

A good full calf hardback with lightly raised bands and gilt tooling to the spine, along with a burgundy morocco title label. Missing volume number label. Covers are scuffed and bumped, and with wear to head and tail of spine. Joints are rubbed, with the front board being rather fragile, and mainly held by the binding cords.

Front endpapers split at gutter, and first free endpaper with previous owner's signature and a 5mm hole in the paper. title spread with Hogarth engraving to frontispiece - with wear to vertical edge. Text is nice and clean with just light scattered spotting. This volume is particularly noted for Sterne's celebrated use of the double-sided black mourning leaf at p.71/72. 

Text in English.

(iv) including frontispiece + 177pp.

Dimensions: Approximately 159mm high x 115mm wide x 18mm deep.

Weight approximately 204g.