Tom Jones by Henry Fielding, Signed Limited Edition, Custom Harcourt Binding

Binding Details:  Signed custom binding by the Harcourt Bindery, Charlestown, Massachusetts bound in three-quarter morocco leather over complimentary cloth covered boards with raised bands to the spine, gilt titles and ruling, and decorative central gold gilt motifs. Single gilt lines to the boards and corners. There are hand-sewn silk endbands with the top page edges gold gilted. The Harcourt Bindery stamp appears on the top of the first free endpaper and the bindery label appears on the bottom of the last free endpaper.

Book Details: Originally published in 1749, this is the signed limited edition published in 1931 by the Limited Edition Club, New York with a limitation of 1500 copies with this being number 194. The book features 40 full-page black-and-vermilion illustrations by Alexander King who signed the book on the limitation page. In his Washington Post review of the book in December, 2003, Jonathan Yardley wrote, “Henry Fielding's "Tom Jones" is a classic of British literature, not merely in its own right but for the incalculable influence it has had in England, the United States and wherever else English is written. Published in 1749 as "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling," it was one of the first English works of prose that we now call novels. Though it caused scandal and sensation, it soon was recognized as a masterpiece, and remains one to this day.”

Measures approximately 11” x 7.5” x 2” with 870 pages as well as an introduction by J.B. Priestly, table of contents, list of illustrations, and author’s preface.

Condition Report:  The binding is in FINE condition with some age toning and minor soiling to the page ends.   Internally, the book is very clean with some mild age toning. There are no bookplates or signs of previous ownership. Overall, this is a beautiful binding that houses on of the great works of literature.

A photograph of the binding appears in the photo section of the listing.