The Vicar of Bullhampton

London: Bradbury, Evans, and Co, 1870 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good/Fair. 9" by 6.5". H. Woods. Illustrated by Henry Woods, this is the first edition of this Anthony Trollope novel, in uncommonly smart condition in the publisher's original cloth. The first edition in book form of this 1870 novel by Anthony Trollope, initially issued in monthly parts between 1869 and 1870. In the scarce publisher's original cloth, and housed in a half calf book style box.Illustrated by British painter and illustrator Henry Woods, a leading figure in the Neo-Venetian artistic movement. Illustrated with a frontispiece and twenty-two further plates, and with a number of vignette illustrations. Each plate retains its original tissue guard. Collated, complete. Composed of three intertwining subplots - the courtship of a young woman, a feuding vicar and nobleman, and a vicar's attempt to rehabilitate a fallen woman - the work was received negatively by admirer's of Trollope's Barchester Chronicles due to its darker tone.Retaining the original half title, and ten page publisher's catalogue to the rear of the work. With the armorial bookplate of Oliver Brett to the front pastedown.Described by Henry James as a 'slow but excellent story, which is a capital example of interest produced by the quietest conceivable means', this is a lovely first edition from one of the most prominent novelists of the Victorian era. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with gilt detailing. Housed in a half calf book style box, with cloth covered boards. Externally, smart, with bumping to back strip head and tail, and a small area of light fading to tail of front board. Front hinge starting, with board holding firm. Armorial bookplate to front pastedown. Light rubbing to box back strip and board extremities. Panels to top edge, fore edge and base of box all strained, and tenderly held. Internally, firmly bound. Tape reinforcement running the length of contents page margin. Pages clean and bright, with plates lightly age toned and retaining their original tissue guards. Very Good