FIRST EDITION OF CHARLOTTE BRONTË’S FIRST NOVEL
(BRONTE, Charlotte). The Professor, A Tale. By Currer Bell. London: Smith, Elder, 1857. Two volumes bound in one. Octavo, early three-quarter tan calf gilt, raised bands, black morocco spine label, marbled boards, endpapers and edges.
First edition, first issue, of Charlotte Brontë’s first novel—her last to be published, attractively bound.
The last of Charlotte Brontë's major works to be published, The Professor was actually the first written. Bronte went from publisher to publisher with the manuscript, eliciting little interest in her work until she met W. Smith Williams, reader at Smith, Elder, through whose encouragement Jane Eyre came to be complete, "bringing success and fame to Charlotte Brontë, and bringing at the same time an equal share of fame and fortune to the happy and enterprising publishers" (Wise 35). First issue, with all points called for (Volume I, p. 21, the last letters in the last words on lines 1 and 2 are transposed between lines; Volume II, period missing after the headlines on pp. 58 and 221, the letter 'p' in 'place' missing in line 3, p. 99, etc.). Bound without the dated 16-page publisher's catalogue at end of Volume II and the ads at the end of Volume I. With half title for Volume I; without half title for Volume II. Smith 7. Parrish 96. Sadleir 347. Wolff 827. Early owner inscription. Early newspaper clipping tipped in.
Interior fine, calf binding with minor wear to extremities. A near-fine copy.