AURIOL. Fragment of a Romance.
London: Chapman & Hall, 1850. 1st book edition (Sadleir 3396). Not in NCBEL or Wolff. 128 pp. Lacks series title leaf prior to individual title. 8vo. 4 1/8" x 6 1/2". Modern 3/4 dark calf with marbled boards. Binding - Fine. Text block - VG (front paste-down with faint period pencil annotations/usual bit of sporadic foxing). Item #19255
This work by Ainsworth was initially issued serially, 1844 - 45, in Ainsworth's Magazine, under the title 'Revelations of London.' This first book edition came as Volume XII of a Uniform Collected Edition of Ainsworth's Works, as issued by Chapman & Hall. The volume contains two additional sketches: 'The Old London Merchant' [pp. 111-116], and 'A Night's Adventure in Rome' [pp 117 - 128].
This first book edition of AURIOL quite uncommon; not held by Wolff, nor was it recorded by the NCBEL, as well as missed by Ainsworth's divers early bibliographers [Slater, Ellis & Locke]. OCLC records but 2 holdings [UCLA, the Sadleir copy, and Princeton]. KVK locates a copy at the British Library [as part of the set], but none in the LC. No copies at auction these past 30 years.
Price: $245.00