London: Tho. Lownds, 1765. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. The true first edition of what is commonly regarded as the true first Gothic novel. Small octavo - viii, 200 pages. In very early full tree calf binding, decoratively ruled in gilt. The spine has five raised bands and six compartments with reddish brown spine label with gilt lettering. All corners now rounded. Full marbled endpapers. One constant worm hole at the bottom right corner, weakening as he worked his way through the novel - with no impact on text at all. Though the date of 1765 is present at the foot of the title page, the book was actually issued on December 24, 1764. Walpole told a friend "that he began his story, under inspiration of a dream at the beginning of June, 1764." (Haze). Also from Haze - "The assertion on the title-page that the story was written by Onuphrio Muralto is properly regarded as a literary hoax, not a forgery, since HW admitted his authorship as soon as the book succeeded." This copy has a very interesting provenance. At the top of "The Translator's Preface" is the ink inscription D Gell - Hopton. There is another signature at the top of the title page. And again, at the foot of the "Preface" page is written - " a fine play on this subject by Jephson "The Count of Narbonne?? 1787." This is likely Dorothy Gell of Hopton Hall in Derbyshire. Dorothy Milnes married Philip Eyre Gell in 1774. She was, it appears, an amateur poet. She married again after Philip died, to Thomas Blore, an antiquarian and topographer. The reference to The Count Of Narbonne regards a very successful stage adaptation by Robert Jephson. Walpole apparently was delighted with the play and it proved a big success in London. All in all, an extraordinary copy and survivor, of a major early Gothic novel. Most data from Haze - 17 - page 52.

Price: $20,000.00