George Eliot. Novels. Six of Seven Volumes; Illustrated Blackwood Edition. Contemporary Half Calf. c.1880.

Novels of George Eliot. A Handsome Late Nineteenth-Century Illustrated Uniform Edition in Contemporary Half Calf. Six of the Seven Physical Volumes (Volumes I-VI & VIII; lacking only Volume VII - Middlemarch).

George Eliot's novels rank among the enduring classics of Victorian literature, combining deeply observed characters with thoughtful explorations of morality, society, and everyday life in nineteenth-century England. Published under the pen name George Eliot, Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880) became one of the leading novelists of the Victorian period, her major works including Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Romola, Felix Holt, Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda. Her exploration of character, social change and human responsibility established her as one of the foremost novelists of the nineteenth century, and her works remain classics of English literature.

This attractive late nineteenth-century illustrated Blackwood uniform edition is presented in a finely bound contemporary half calf binding with raised bands, gilt decoration, contrasting green morocco title labels, marbled boards, marbled endpapers and marbled page edges. The set comprises six of the original seven physical volumes (Volumes I, II, III-IV, V, VI and VIII), with only Volume VII (Middlemarch) absent. Volume III-IV combines Silas Marner and Scenes of Clerical Life within a single book, as issued in this edition. The final volume, Daniel Deronda, is dated 1880 and has a slightly revised title-page design reflecting its later publication, but appears entirely consistent with the same uniform series.

Contents

• Volume I - Adam Bede
• Volume II - The Mill on the Floss
• Volume III-IV - Silas Marner and Scenes of Clerical Life
• Volume V - Felix Holt
• Volume VI - Romola
• Volume VII - Middlemarch (not present)
• Volume VIII - Daniel Deronda

Published by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London. The majority of volumes are undated, with Daniel Deronda dated MDCCCLXXX (1880).

A handsome contemporary half calf binding with gilt decoration to spines, green morocco title labels, marbled paper-covered boards, marbled endpapers and marbled page edges. The books remain remarkably attractive on the shelf, with bright gilt tooling and an elegant, uniform appearance.

The text throughout is illustrated with numerous high-quality engravings.

Each volume bears the attractive Manchester Grammar School Library bookplate to the front pastedown, adding an interesting provenance from one of England's oldest and most distinguished schools.

A very good set of hardback volumes overall. Some light rubbing and wear to the covers, including edges of the boards. 3 of the volumes are cracked at the gutter to endpapers, but binding still sound. Traces of label removal marks visible to first free marbled endpapers.

Text is bright and clean throughout. Some related pencil annotations to blank endpaper in the first volume (removable). All illustrations present as called for. An attractive set of volumes.

Text in English.

Pagination:

Volume I - Adam Bede, A New Edition; vi + 470pp. Illustrated with title page vignette and 6 Plates; 

Volume II - The Mill on the Floss, Stereotyped Edition; vii + 486pp. Illustrated with title page vignette and 6 Plates; 

Volume III-IV - Silas Marner and Scenes of Clerical Life, Stereotyped Editions; (iv) + 158pp + (iii) + 330pp. Illustrated with 2 title page vignettes and 7 Plates; 

Volume V - Felix Holt, The Radical; Stereotyped Edition; (iii) + 430pp. Illustrated with title page vignette and 6 Plates; 

Volume VI - Romola, Stereotyped Edition; v + (1) + 504pp. Illustrated with title page vignette; 

Volume VIII - Daniel Deronda, New Edition, Complete in One Volume; (iv) + 612pp. Illustrated with title page vignette. 

Dimensions: each volume approximately 186mm high x 132mm wide x 30-37mm deep.

Weight approximately 3.7kg (the set - unpacked).