WATCH AND WARD
Boston: Houghton, Osgood and Company, 1878. First Edition. A sharp copy of James's first novel, serialized between August-December, 1871 in the Atlantic Monthly. It did not appear in book format until Osgood proposed publication in April, 1878. James implemented moderate revisions to the text between the serialization and it's appearance in book format; even so, he was ashamed of the novel, all but disowning it in his later life, and choosing rather to favor Roderick Hudson as his debut. Edel & Laurence A6; BAL 10535. Item #6193
First Printing, one of 1,000 copies. 18mo. (15.5cm); emerald green cloth, with titling and decorative elements stamped in gilt and blind-embossed onto spine and covers; brown endpapers; all edges stained red; [ii],[5],6-219,[3]pp. Some trivial external wear, spine ends just barely nudged, else a fresh, very Near Fine copy, with the cloth quite vibrant, and the red edge-staining perfectly even.
Price: $1,500.00