to Isabella Blackwood, sister to John Blackwood
'Eliot, George' [Mary Ann Evans]. THE MILL ON THE FLOSS. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1860. Three Volumes in the original cinnamon-colored cloth. First Edition, first printing, presumed first state in Carter's "B" binding (no priority) without the additional ad leaf in Volume One thought to be a later insertion. Isabella Blackwood (1811-1897) was the sister of John Blackwood, editor and publisher of virtually all of George Eliot's first editions from SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE through her last novel DANIEL DERONDA. Isabella's obituary succinctly describes her as "...a brilliant conversationalist who was intimate with three generations of writers." Last of her clan, Isabella Blackwood's posthumous monograph: "The Early House Of Blackwood" was published in 1900. This first edition of George Eliot's classic novel is inscribed on the title page of Volume One in the year of issue: "To Isabella Blackwood 1860" in a hand which may be that of her brother but must, with compelling presumption and at the very least, have been presented to his sister upon his instruction. All three volumes have some soiling, light fraying to the extremities, general wear, and a few cracked inner-hinges. But overall this is a Good to Very Good set with eye appeal, its greatest flaw being only that of honest wear from having been well-read as one might expect of its owner.
The likelihood of finding a presentation copy of THE MILL ON THE FLOSS by the author herself is remote. In the last thirty years there have been, to the best of our knowledge, only a half-dozen George Eliot presentation copies to appear on the rare book market. And by that, we mean all her titles combined. Since 1993, we ourselves have only handled one presentation copy ('The Spanish Gypsy' inscribed to Eliot's Hebrew instructor who advised her on 'Daniel Deronda). Of all the Victorian Giants, as John Carter termed his top thirteen, she probably presented the fewest number of books. And although there always seem to be a small number of first editions of THE MILL ON THE FLOSS for sale at any given time, it is a special opportunity to be able to purchase any George Eliot first edition (especially in original cloth) with this kind of direct association to its publication. Leather book label of John Stuart Groves (most of whose books were disbursed in the 1930s) on the front pastedown of all three volumes. Baker and Ross A5.1.a. In a vintage half-morocco slipcase. $4,500.00
