"SHE WAS BAD… ALWAYS": EDITH WHARTON'S OLD NEW YORK, 1924

WHARTON, Edith. Old New York. New York and London: D. Appleton, 1924. Four volumes. Octavo, original blue cloth, decorative paper labels on front boards and spines, pictorial endpapers. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. $1500.

First edition, mixed set of first and early printings, of Wharton's four-volume set of New York stories.

The Old New York set of four novelettes, comprised of False Dawn (The 'Forties), The Old Maid (The 'Fifties), The Spark (The 'Sixties) and New Year's Day (The 'Seventies) represents the best of Wharton's later work and explores New York middle-class and aristocratic societies during four decades. Her "observant, satiric, witty portrayal of social nuance… shows her keen interest in what she called the 'tribal behaviour' of various groups" (Drabble & Stringer 608). The endpapers and front cover labels are illustrated with designs by Edward Caswell. A number in parentheses at the end of the final text page of each volume indicates the printing number: New Year's Day is a first printing; False Dawn, The Old Maid, and The Spark are third printings. Without original dust jackets. Originally sold both with and without a matching slipcase; this copy without the original slipcase. Garrison A33.I.f, A34.I.h, A35.I.e, A36.I.f. Owner signature dated the year of publication on fly title of New Year's Day.

Interiors and cloth clean, minor rubbing to spine ends and gently toned spine labels. A near-fine set.