The House of Mirth
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1905. First Edition. First edition, first issue with Scriber's seal on the copyright page and no advertisements at the rear. In near fine to fine condition, no jacket. Red cloth over boards with a lightly debossed border near edges. Solid and square, text block with a 1mm dip towards center when standing upright. Top right front corner minimally frayed, otherwise corners are square and clean. Light scratch on back, and lighter shading to front in a few spots (see photos). Gold lettering and border to front board, gold lettering on spine. Top edge gilt, long and lower edges rough cut. Fountain pen inscrition to ffep reading, "Maudie 7/11/06" and the beginning of splitting at gutter to ffep. The interior is otherwise free from notes, inscriptions, or spotting. With 8 engraved illustrations by A. B. Wenzell, including frontispiece protected by bound in tissue. Wharton's second published novel, it propelled her to commercial and critical success and remains a piercing assessment of the Gilded Age and New York society at the turn of the 20th entury. An excellent copy.
Pages: (2) (8) 533 (7) Dimensions: 7¾ x 5¼ x 1½ . Near Fine. Item #5290
Price: $2,000.00