Little Women by Alcott Louisa: Books (Over 3,200 results)

Hardcover. First Edition Thus; First Printing. Good in boards. Owner bookplate on front pastedown, personalization on FEP. Front hinge cracked. Illustrations by Clara M. Burd.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. 2 volumes. Both professionally restored and rebound. Original purple spine strips and portions of the covers retained and laid down over a rich purple cloth that is very similar to the tone of the faded 19th century original. Repaired, re-sewn, re-backed, to return the volumes to strong and attractive condition. As they sit on the shelf, 99% original spine shows (and only a glimpse of the rebacking). We are very pleased. It is rare to find an edition as early as this that can be confidently read and enjoyed in its entirety. Some small paper repair here and there, unobtrusive. Part 1 dated 1869 on the title page, with pencil gift inscription on the front endpaper dated November 1869. Copyright page dated 1868. 341 pages plus 10 pages of ads. All plates present. Final page DOES mention that a second part is available. Spine and title page do not refer to this as Part 1, though. Part 2 dated 1869 and also with 1869 gift inscription on the free endpaper. 359 pages. No ads. Notice present on page iv mentioning that Part 1 is available. There is a subtle indication of a high-tide line in Part 2, shown clearly in photo of back of one of the plates, but mostly too subtle to notice. A very early set - matched since they were new - though not the first printings of either volume. A deep bibliographical dive reveals that the first part was first advertised in September 1868 and then offered for sale in early October of that year. The best guess is that 2,000 copies were printed for that first release; they sold immediately. The publisher scrambled to print more, changing the date on the title page to 1869 but making no other changes for at least 3 printings in early 1869 - until they added a note at the end to let readers know that Part 2 was available. [Our copy has that note, but is still bound up in the earliest binding, with no mention of which part this is on the spine or the title page.] BAL notes that there were 4 (or more) printings in 1869 like this one, without Part 1 on the spine. The manuscript for Part 2 was ready for publication in very early 1869. Some 1869 editions of Part 2 mention (on page iv) that Part 1 is also available (our copy does). Many copies of Part 2 contain a section of publisher's ads at the end, but our copy does not (no priority necessarily indicated by this). The final page of the text is the final page of the book in our copy. Both copies bear the same gift inscription to Belle Carleton from her Papa, Nov 24th, 1869. Three handwritten lines on the back of the frontispiece of Part 1 say 'This book was given to me by Miss Mauley my Sunday School teacher. Holy Trinity, for learning the Catechism.' There is a color transfer of a rose at the top of the first page of the first part (and a partially removed one on part 2). There is some minor fading to the pages, some waviness here and there from age, a spot of foxing. It's important to recognize that publishing houses with a best-seller on their hands were anything but consistent in their binding practices. they would use signatures from earlier printings, publisher's catalogues updated or omitted in the middle of the binding process, a variety of cloth covers, etc., etc. Careful bibliographic chronoligizing has been ongoing for a century without accounting for all the variants out in the world. At the time of this listing, there are only 4 sets available from before 1870, and of those only 2 with a 1868 edition of Part 1. Please email with questions or to request more photos.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. 1st edition thus. Long catalogue to rear. Date of publication is between 1886-91, judging by the dating of some books in this catalogue in Library Hub, and the change in the company name after George Lock died in 1891. Original grey cloth with pictorial decoration in pink, blue, green, black & gilt, all unfaded. Bevelled boards. A very attractive little used copy of a rare edition. Endpapers uncracked at gutters. Robust packaging. Tracking can be added to overseas orders on request. Used books are exempt from USA tariffs. Size: iv, 283pp. Inscription dated 1894.

Softcover. First Edition Thus; First Printing. Very Good+ in wraps.

Collins, New York. 1969. First edition, thus. Large 8vo hardback with DW. Colour frontis. + 7 colour plates + illustrations in b/w. Slight creasing to spine. Ownership inscription to front endpaper o/w contents clean and sound. Wrapper spine is sunned and is a little rubbed and worn at tail of spine. Overall a lovely copy.

First editions of Louisa May Alcott's "outstanding achievement of 19th-century American literatureâ together with its sequels. Octavo, three volumes, original publisher's emerald green gilt decorated cloth, each volume illustrated with tissue-guarded frontispieceÂand threeÂplates; those in the first part of Little Women were created by the authorâs sister, May. First issue of Little Women with all points including Little Women priced at $1.25 in terminal advertisements, one of 2,000 copies printed with 250 sets of sheets shipped to England for issue by Sampson, Low; Part Second is first edition, early-state, with notice about Part First on page [iv] and with âHandy Volume Seriesâ followed by âII.â At least five different textual states exist for the first edition, of which BAL describes four (MacDonnell). BAL 158, 159. Grolier, American 100 74. Little Men is first edition, first issue with four advertisements preceding the text stating Pink and White Tyranny "Nearly Ready." Each volume is in very good condition with some rubbing to extremities. Housed in a custom half morocco slipcase, each volume with gilt-lettered custom folding chemise. An exceptional set. One of the most popular juvenile books ever published, âLittle Women is an outstanding achievement of 19th-century American literature, and the first childrenâs novel written in that country to have become an enduring classic.â âIt is one of the first fictional texts for children to convey the difficulties and anxieties of girlhood, and⦠suggests that becoming a âlittle womanâ is a learned and often fraught process, not an instinctual or natural condition of female developmentâ (Foster & Simon, 87). Published separately in consecutive years, the first part of Little Women âdid not sell at first. Part Second was therefore also issued in a small edition, but it went like wildfire, and pulled Part First along with itâ (Grolier 74). The original issues of each part are therefore very rare.

Softcover. Condition: Very Good. First edition. Cover illustration by A.W. Rossiter. Quarto. 23pp. Stapled wrappers, Toning and foxing to the wrappers, and bumping to the corners, still very good or better. Six instrumental pieces for piano, each one inspired by a "little woman" from a different novel, with each song being introduced with the book, the author, the "little woman," and an excerpt of text from the book giving context. Includes "Little Nell" from *The Old Curiosity Shop* by Charles Dickens, "Judy Abbott" from *Daddy Long Legs* by Jean Webster, "Beth" from *Little Women* by Louisa M. Alcott, "Ellie" from *The Water Babies* by Charles Kingsley, and "Topsy" from *Uncle Tom's Cabin* by Harriet Beecher Stowe. *OCLC* locates only two holdings and it appears to be equally scarce in the trade.

First editions of both volumes of Alcott's most coveted work. Octavo, two volumes in the original green cloth with gilt titles and decorations to the spine and front panel, each volume illustrated with four plates including frontispiece; those in the first part created by the authorâs sister, May. Little Women is first issue with all points including Little Women priced at $1.25 in terminal advertisements. Little Women, Part Second is mixed state. Both volumes are in near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities, contemporary inscription to volume one. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise clamshell box. An exceptional example, rare and desirable in the original cloth, as most examples have been rebound. Louisa May Alcott was born in Germanstown, Pennsylvania and spent most of her life in Massachusetts. Educated by her father, the philosopher and writer, Amos Bronson Alcott, she began writing to help support her family. She too, like her heroineÂJo, wrote stories for pulp magazines under a male pseudonym. The illustrations were by her sister May, upon whom the character of Amy was based.ÂIn 1865, while serving as editor of Merry Museum, a Boston childrenâs magazine, Alcott received encouragement to write a book for girls. Drawing on memories of childhood, the author portrayed the daily lives of Amy, Jo, Beth and Meg Marchâ"portraits of the four Alcott sisters. One of the most popular juvenile books ever published, âLittle Women is an outstanding achievement of 19th-century American literature, and the first childrenâs novel written in that country to have become an enduring classic.â âIt is one of the first fictional texts for children to convey the difficulties and anxieties of girlhood, and⦠suggests that becoming a âlittle womanâ is a learned and often fraught process, not an instinctual or natural condition of female developmentâ (Foster & Simon, 87). Published separately in consecutive years, the first part of Little Women âdid not sell at first. Part Second was therefore also issued in a small edition, but it went like wildfire, and pulled Part First along with itâ (Grolier 74). The original issues of each part are therefore quite rare. Each volume is illustrated with a frontispiece and three plates; those in the first part of Little Women were created by the authorâs sister, May. First issue of Little Women with all points, including Little Women priced at $1.25 in terminal advertisements.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. First Edition. A worn but solid copy of the first edition of the second part of this classic title. This second volume states "Part Second" on the spine, and has the notice about Part One on page iv. 359 pp with 8 pages of ads [15,12, 11, 3, 4, 18, 19, 20. Frontispiece with tissue-guard and 3 plates, as issued are present. Tissue guard is torn. Brown coated end papers. Writing in pencil on front end papers and flyleaf. Binding is cocked. Wear to top and bottom of spine. This is not an ex-library copy. The image by our description is not a stock image but instead a photograph of the book you will be receiving. Please view photo(s) to determine exact condition.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Fair. First Edition Thus. New York: The World Publishing Company, 1946. Stated first printing, August 1946, of the Rainbow Classics edition with illustrations by Hilda van Stockum. Very good in heavily worn dustjacket. Colorful patterned hardcover with red cloth spine, color frontis plate plus three additional full page color illustrations (four total), additional full and partial page illustrations in black and white, illustrated dustjacket. Light rubbing to the extremities, mainlythe bottom edge, good hinges, sound text block, clean pages, bookplate on front free endpaper, no other names or markings. The dustjacket is not priceclipped [0100 and 010-013] and has little paper loss but is held together on its reverse side with old tape, some minor chips and soil, darkening to white background. . First Edition Thus. Hard Cover. Very Good/Fair. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Hardcover. Condition: Very good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good-. First Edition (?). Octavo, 101pp., illustrated, plus advertisements. A very good copy in the publisher's decorative brown cloth. Some soiling to baords and the top edge, else clean and bright internally. Contemporary owner's name and small private library label to the front free endpaper, else unmarked. In the rare dust jacket, soiled and rubbed, with a large piece missing from the bottom right corner of the front panel, and some clear tape repairs to verso; good only. A full-length adaptation of the play that the March sisters perform in their own house, described in Alcott's novel, "Little Women." Though a very similar-looking reprint is dated in 1915 on the title page, our copy, dated in 1900 on the copyright page only, and listing Curtis as the primary publisher, conforms to BAL vol. I, p. 45 (end of the L. M. Alcott section). Certainly scarce in dust jacket.

Soft cover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. 10th printing, 1976. Collier paperback. 542-pages fine, like new. Book tight, sound, clean text. Previous owner name along top edge of inside front cover.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. HARDBACK NODJ ISSUED, 1912 on Title & Copyright Pg, 1st PLAYERS Edition, SCUFFED GREEN CLOTH PICTORIAL Photo of seated Girl, Holding. Basket COVER with Gold Gilt small CVR Scratches, NO JACKET, VG- , SOLD AS-IS, , 1Illustrated PG SCUFF MARK, Hardback with tipped on illustration to front board WITH SCUFF MARKS GOLD GILT NICE BRITE, Black and white photographs throughout. Boards worn and rubbed. Hinges shaken. Foxing and age marks Spine and binding well bound and firm no loose pages. Boards may have are signs of wear and aging both front and back. Some minimal edge wear along the sides of the boards. Inside the book there are no pen or pencil marks ( front pastedown has wear and PENCIL NAME BLANK PG. HALF TITLE PG HAS CHIPS WEAR ON RITE EDGE, INNER HINGES STARTING SLIGHTLY , Unique pictures of actors in stage play throughout on glossy paper. A semi-autobiographical tale about the struggles of four sisters growing.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. HARDBACK NODJ ISSUED, 1912 on Title & Copyright Pg, 1st PLAYERS edition, GREEN CLOTH PICTORIAL Photo of seated Girl, Holding. Basket COVER with Gold Gilt small CVR Scratches, NO JACKET, VG- , 1 Illustrated PG SCUFF MARK PROTRUDES OUT A LITLE BIT & HAS SMALL HOLE PG 292Spine and binding well bound and firm no loose pages. Boards may have are signs of wear and aging both front and back. Some minimal edge wear along the sides of the boards. Inside the book there are no pen or pencil marks (other than a previous owners name inside the front cover or on one of the first few blank pages. Pages may have some blemishes and age discolored pages. A very nice VG- condition antique book. Unique pictures of actors in stage play throughout on glossy paper. A semi-autobiographical tale about the struggles of four sisters growing u.

hardcover. Condition: Very good. First and second printings. Two volumes, very good in original cloth, a mixed set, with the second printing of volume one, dated 1869, and a first edition of the second volume, also dated 1869. Volume one has an ownership signature dated 1869, and another one dated later. Housed in a custom-made cloth slipcase.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ, Stated 1st Issued In This form 1933.UK, LONDON , Hardcover. Condition: Near Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Contains Two Complete Stories: Little Women And Good Wives. Mild Shelfwear And Edgewear, Tanning From Age, But Intact, No Loose Pages, Or Other Damage, Foxing, Otherwise An Unmarked, Clean, And Solid Copy. DJ Mild Shelfwear And Egdewear, With A One Very Small Chips On The BTM Of Spine DJ.

Hardcover. Condition: Poor. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Poor copy. See Images. First Edition. Illustrated by Percy Tarrant. Green illustrated cloth boards with gilt decoration and wear. Staining, discoloration, scratching to rear board. Detached boards with only front endpaper and Half Title Page remaining attached to board. Spine with wear, discoloration, staining. Spine tips and joints with tearing, fray, loss of cloth. Corners rubbed, worn, frayed, board exposure. Internal tape mends to gutter. Notations to illustrated front endpaper. Text is good+ with staining to some pages here and there. Textblock edges with wear, soil. Additional images can be provided for your satisfaction. No DJ. Shelf 7b.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. HARDBACK NODUSTJACKET, 1913, 1st edition THUS, VG+/VG, AS-IS, NO JACKET Some SLIGHT wear on jacket edges. Some edge wear on covers. Owner's name inside. Text pages in good condition there are at least two other color illustrations in this book. PICTORIAL COVER OF GIRL AN D BOY ON DONKEY WITH DOG COVER WITH PICTORIAL B/W & Gold LABEL, 337 PGS ,HEREIN IS Continued the Story of Little Women, Sensitive, Music Loving Nat, Harum-Scarum Tommy, Studious Demi, Undisciplined Dan, Hoydenish Nan, & Domestic Little Daisy are but a few of Active Minded true to th elife Childen who romp into & out of Trouble ALL THRU THIS ENDEARING STORY. Sympathy mixed with good Counsel & supervision goesa long way.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ, 1933, STATED 1ST ISSUED THIS FORM 1933, VG. Dj VG, protective covered, edgewear and chips. 8.5x5.5. 576pp. BLUE TOPSTAIN Hardcover. Condition: Near Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Reprint. Contains Two Complete Stories: Little Women And Good Wives. Mild Shelfwear And Edgewear, Tanning From Age, Crack In Binding On Title Page With Webbing Exposed, But Intact, No Loose Pages, Or Other Damage, Foxing, Otherwise An Unmarked, Clean, And Solid Copy. Dj Mild Shelfwear And Edgewear, With A One Very Small Chips On The Top Of Spine , 8 colour plates 2 of Louisa M. Alcott's novels are brought together here - 'Little Women' and 'Good Wives', the first two of the quartet which tell the story of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, as they move from childhood to families of their own.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ, 1957, 1st edition THUS, VG+/VG+, Very clean vintage classic with original dust jacket MINOR EDGWEAR. Nice! Inside pages are clean, bright and unmarked. Sound and square binding in patterned, cloth-covered boards of red & green illustrations, 343 PGS, BACK OF DJ LISTS RAINBOW CLASSICS HUCK FINN THRU KING OF GOLDEN RIVER , Sound and square binding in patterned, cloth-covered boards, 5.75 x 8.50 inches ,the third book in Little Women Trilogy, book follows the lives of the Plumfield boys as they grow up and begin their forays into the world. Childhood friends become flirtatious young men and women, encountering the trouble of the adult world,HERE IS PLUMFIELD AGAIN WITH ITS MEMORIES OF AUNT MARGE, Of Pillow Fights & Little Cook Stove, of Dozen Rebellious Boys, Who made Life in th Old House, Joy & Chaos for so Many Yrs, Plumfield Quiet & Prosperous now in Shade of Beautiful Laurence College, & Aunt Jo Wise & Warm & still fun-loving r the Havens to which the Wanderers return. Music Loving Nat, Jovial E Capable Nan, Rob & Young Teddy etc.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ, 1946, COPYRIGHT PG READS 1ST PRINTING AUGUST 1946, SECOND PRINTING OCT 1946,SAME YEAR AS 1ST ,1ST, VG+/VG BACK DJ Lists Rainbow classics an old Fashioned Girl Thru little Men. MILD WEAR & HB ILLUST COVER WITH RED BLACK & GREEN WITH RED SPINE CVR, SOME INTERIOR LITE FOX DJ HAS TINY EXTREMITIES MANY CHIPS, YELLOW TOPSTAIN , B/W & COLOR Illustrated by Hilda van Stockum. MOST POPULAR BOOK FOR GIRLS EVER WRITTEN. Home of March Family.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ, STATED 1ST PRINTING AUGUST 1946 ON COPYRIGHT PG, VG+/VG+ BACK DJ Lists Rainbow classics an old Fashioned Girl Thru little Men. , , MILD WEAR & HB ILLUST COVER WITH RED BLACK & GREEN, Inscribed/writing on one of the front pages FORMER OWNER, SPINE CVR HAS RUB SMALL CHIPPINMG. SOME INTERIOR LITE FOX DJ HAS TINY EXTREMITIES CHIPS, YELLOWGREEN TOPSTAIN, 539 PGS.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ, 1932 ON TITLE PG, 1ST EDITION THUS, BOOK VG+ CONDITION, DUSTJACKET VG- WITH SOME SMALL EDGE CHIPS TEARS WEAR, Book cover has some rubs along edges and slight smudge MARK on back CVR. Name inside cover, tight binding, minimal page browning great condition for age.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ, COPYRIGHT PG READS 1ST PRINTING AUGUST 1946, SECOND PRINTING OCT 1946, BOOK GOOD/ DJ VG+ , SOLD AS-IS, Very Good condition, light TINY CHIPS to jacket EXTREMITIES, ,Measures: GOOD/VG+. 5.75" x 8.5" x 1.5" YELLOW & RED & BROWN ILLUSTRATED CLOTH BOARDS OF VARIOUS CHARACTERS COVER SPINE & EDGE HAS RUB & SPOTTING, BACK CLOTH CVR MUCH RUB 538 pgs, topstain yellow, INTERIOR INNER HNGE HAS WATER MARGIN STAIN 1ST 30 PGS, BACK OF DJ LISTS RAINBOW CLAZSSICS AN OLD FASHIONED GIRL THRU LITTLE MEN BY ALCOTT, RED CLOTH AT SPINE CVR , COLOR ILLUSTRATED DUSTJACKET of seated mother reading Leteer surrounded by her 4 Daughters , B/W & COLOR Illustrated by Hilda van Stockum. MOST POPULAR BOOK FOR GIRLS EVER WRITTEN. Home of March Family.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. HBDJ, 1915 on title Pg, 1st Edition THUS, Copyright 1900 by John S.P. Alcott., Very Good+ in VG- LITELY FOXED Dust jacket WITH SMALL CHIPS WEAR TO EXTREMITIES & SPINE OF DJ, AS-IS, .lustrations by Reginald B. Birch. DJ HAS SMALL CHIPS TEARS, WEAR TO TOP EDGE OF FRONT & SPINE DJ, SMALL 5 1/2 X 7 3/4 IN. BEIGE CLOTH ILLSTRATED CVR MATCHES DJ Illustration, 101 PGS , Book was Originally By Louisa May Alcott, People in Play Mrs. March, MEG, JO, BETH, AMY, HANNAH. LAURIE & MR. LAURENCE.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. B/W DECORATIONS ON SOME PGS, Ormiston Free Church School' prize Inscription to front end-paper dated 1875, awarded to Mary Kerr from Mrs. Stewart. Fox, HARDBACK NODustjacket ISSUED, UNDATED BUT circa 1872, 1ST UK BRITISH EDITION ???, OF PART 1ST ENDS ON PG 283 & 2ND, WHICH WAS CALLED GOOD WIVES IN UK, Ends on pg 313 + Many ADS SOME Illustrated, IN HARDBACK in Single Volume, VG-, AS-IS, , APPROX6 1/2 X 4 1/4 IN. THICK BROWN RED Bevelled DECORATED CLOTH WITH GOLD GILT WITH LITE EDGEWEAR, GOLD GILT PGS OUTE4R EDGES, SOME Interior MILD Foxing, Publ 'Tyler' ceased to be a partner of 'Ward, Lock' in 1873. FEW BLANKMARGIN SMALL EDGE CHIPS, Original publishers bevelled-edge brown cloth stamped in decorative black frames & gilt titles to front board & spine. Binding reasonably firm, general edge-wear, lean to text-block, all page edges gilt, rear-outer-hinge holding but fraying, minor innocuous repairs to inner-hinges. Joint title-page only. Front end-paper + iv + 283pp + ii + 313pp + 34pp publisher advertisements + end-papers - complete. Good Wives' is the UK-title of part 2, Some Illustrated ADS IN Back, VERY SLIGHT LEAN.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Illustrated From Engravings,SAYS WITH Illustrations on Title pg, ;SLIGHT LEAN , Inner Hinges in back Vol.1 Slightly cracked HARDBACK NODUSTJACKET ISSUED, 2 VOLUMES COMPLETE VG, NOJACKET , 1871 on Title Pg BOTH VOLS, 1ST EDITION , EARLY ISSUE, PART FIRST & PART SECOND, VG-/GOOD +, NO JACKET,AS-IS, PART 1 1871 on Title pg & 1868 ON COPYRIGHT & Has Small Spine edge Tear TOP BACK & tiny Chips ends of Spine & 10 PGS ADS AT BACK & MENTIONS LITTLE WOMEN 2 VOLS. $3, HAS DEFINITE LEAN FOXING STAINS, PART 2 1871 on Title pg & 1869 ON COPYRIGHT & HAS SMALL SPINE TEAR BTM OUTER SPINE CVR BACK & LITE WRINKLING TO FRONT CVR & SMALL UPPER BLANK MARGIN CHIP PG 129 ,PUBLISHERS brownred Cloth Lite edgewear Scuff , VG CONDITION, Stamped in gold with litely scuffed edges & wear & Gold Gilt Oval on front with Title & Author .; (inner) hinges just starting Slightly; light use to extremities of cloth; still, tight and sound. 12mo, BOTH VOLS SLIGHT LEAN , PART 1ST HAS 341 PGS + ADS THRU Arthur Helps s Writings, PART 2ND HAS 359 PGS + ADS THRU THE PEGEON PIE, BOTH VOLS. HAVE SMALL END CHIPS, SOME SCUFF SPINE EDGES, Four full page illustrations present, including Frontispiece. Eight pages of publisher's advertisements to rear of each. Original full bound brownred pebbled cloth, with gilt oval design to front panel containing gilt lettering "Little Women L. M. Alcott. Same design and lettering to spine. The binding slightly cocked, but solid. A very scarce example of a very desirable high point title in American literature.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. HARDBACK NODUSTJACKET ISSUED, PART 1 1870 on Title pg & 1868 ON COPYRIGHT, PART 2 1870 on Title pg & 1869 ON COPYRIGHT ,2 VOLS, 1ST EDITION , EARLY ISSUE, PART FIRST & SECOND, VG- & Other Volume is VG-/GOOD- ONLY condition with slight lean , AS-IS, 2 VOLUMES, PART 1ST HAS SCUFFING WEAR SPINE CVR Edges,Stain back of Frontispiece & TOP BACK CVR,SPINE CVR TITLE FADE WEAR ETC, SLIGHT LEAN, SOME INTEROR FOX , PART 2ND HAS SLIGHT LEAN SPINE WEAR, , , BurgundyRED Cloth with scuffed edges & wear & gold Gilt Oval on front with Title & Author , This book is in great condition for its age, & Other Volmue is FAIR- ONLY, BACK COVER & SPINE HAS SOME SUN WEAR & EDGE SCUFF, Back Cvr has small Fade at Top Edge, 341 pages +ADS AT BACK.

First edition thus, assumed first printing. Small format. Very good with wear to the spine and a small ownership inscription.

Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First edition, complete in two volumes. Volume I is a first state with title page dated 1868 and Little Women priced at $1.25 in the adverts at rear. Volume II is an uncommon variant issued without advertising pages, similar to a copy Mac Donnell Rare Books had mentioned in the APG; it conforms to aspects of the BAL's second, third, and fourth states with notice on p. iv, "Little Women, Part First is published in a volume uniform with this" but as the Ahearns mention its priority is uncertain and may call into question the BAL's ordering of states. [vi], 7 - 341, [7]; iv, 5 - 359 pp., complete with four wood engraved plates per volume including frontis. Bound in publisher's green cloth lettered in gilt. Very Good with slight lean to each binding, light rubbing and soiling to cloth, and light soiling to textblock edges. Volume I recased with new endpapers and strengthened spine ends; contents toned, pencil traces and owner signature dated 1868 to fly-leaf. Volume II frayed at head and tail of spine; rear joint starting, hinges cracked, contents toned, owner name in old hand to fly-leaf. An attractive set. Little Women spent years in the back of Louisa May Alcott's mind, but once she sat down to write it she was able to send the manuscript to the publishing company Roberts Bros. in just six weeks. They were dubious, but their literary partner Thomas Niles tried the manuscript on his niece Lily, who was utterly absorbed by it. The publishers decided to go ahead and make an offer for the story, advising Alcott to keep the copyright and in doing so made her fortune. The first part of Little Women made its entry into the world in October 1868, clothed in a variety of bindings green, purple, and terra cotta and priced at $1.25. The first printing of 2,000 copies sold so well that the publishers raised the price by twenty-five cents for subsequent printings. In response to popular demand, Alcott began writing a second part in November, remarking in her journal that "Girls write to ask who the little women marry, as if that was the only end and aim of a woman's life. I won't marry Jo to Laurie to please anyone." Part Two was published in the spring of 1869, completing the story that has enthralled generations of readers.