Henry James Jr. — Watch and Ward

Boston, Houghton, Osgood and Company, 1878 . First edition. Cloth. The first edition in book form of Henry James's debut novel. The first edition in book form of this work, in Edel & Laurence binding a, retaining final blank. A6.One-thousand copies of this first edition were produced.James's first novel - initially serialised in 1871 in the Atlantic Monthly - follows a wealthy man who adopts a twelve year old girl after her father kills himself.James eventually disowned the novel, likely due to the melodramatic and predicable plot. From 1883 onwards, he referred to 'Roderick Hudson' as his first novel. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Externally, bright, with bumping to back strip head and tail. Front hinge strained but firmly held. Significant closed tear to head of front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .