1914 First Edition The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman H. G. Wells Macmillan
 
Book overview
 
First edition, 1914, The Wife of Sir Isaac Harman by H. G. Wells, published by Macmillan and Co., Limited, London. Original publisher’s green cloth binding with blind-stamped decoration and gilt lettering to the front board and spine. Top-edge gilt pages. A social novel by Wells exploring marriage, gender roles, and social expectations. All 465 text pages are present, plus 8 pages of publisher advertisements at rear.
 
Exterior condition
 
Bound in original green cloth over boards and spine.
Blind-stamped decorations and gilt lettering to the front board and spine remain attractive and in keeping with the era.
Cover intact and structurally sound.
Age-related wear: soft bumping to corners, small marks, patches of fading, fading on the spine, and light cloth discolouration.
The spine shows a gentle lean.
Partial rubbing to board edges. Please study the photographs for close detail.
 
Interior condition
 
Pages lightly tanned, consistent with a 1914 volume.
Tanned endpapers with light foxing.
Pages predominantly neat, clean, and mostly uncreased.
Small patch of rubbing to the overleaf of the front free endpaper.
Remnants of something previously pasted to page 1, as shown in photos.
Small ink stamp and a sticker adhered to the back pastedown.
Very small ink marks on pages 374 and 375, pictured.
Only a couple of pages show very small rips at the edges, none affecting the text.
Light, partial cracks in the gutter between a few pages, including between the front pastedown and front free endpaper, but all pages are secure and attached.
All 465 pages of text present, plus 8 pages of advertisements. No missing pages.
 
Significance of this edition
 
This is a first edition, published by Macmillan in 1914, the year war began. It is an important Wells title in his non-science fiction output, addressing social themes and the changing role of women. Collectors of H. G. Wells first editions prize copies in publisher’s cloth, and the top-edge gilt here is a desirable physical feature.
 
About the author
 
Born in 1866, Herbert George Wells was a prolific English writer, pioneer of modern science fiction and incisive social commentator.
 
Measurements & weight
 
Approximate size: 19.8 cm by 13.8 cm by 3.2 cm.
Approximate weight: 506 grams.
 
Please note
 
Please study the photographs carefully for details of condition. Photographs form part of the description.