preliminaries as in Vols. I and II, pp [i-iv];
text pp [1]-210;
followed by an inserted undated 32-page publisher’s catalogue which lists, on p 18 under the heading NOVELS RECENTLY PUBLISHED, A Story of Three Women. By George Moore in three volumes.

This may have been an earlier title of A Modem Lover, although there seems to be no other reference to it, other than the possible faint echo in Lewis Seymour and Some Women (A36), the title of the final version;

cream endpapers (a copy of Volume II in the first binding state has been noted with white endpapers);
top edges untrimmed, fore and bottom edges trimmed;
bound in light greenish-blue cloth

A set in plum-colored cloth with a variant stamping in black on the front covers was listed by Charles Rare Books in their 1964 spring catalogue. The cover stamping on this set agrees with the copy of Volume II described and pictured as “A” by John Carter in Binding Variants, 1820-1900, p 142, which has an ornamental design on the front cover instead of the usual lettering, “has a title page of very slightly different setting from the normal, and pp 161-239 are on proof paper, with various small differences.” These may have been trial bindings, as may have been at least two sets bound in black diagonal fine-ribbed cloth, lettered in gold on the front cover as well as on the spine. One of these sets was Lot 132 in the sale of Viscount Esher’s library at Sotheby’s, 18 November 1946, which had a 16-page undated catalogue inserted at the end of Volume III. A set in a similar binding, acquired 24 January 1944, is in the Beinecke Library at Yale University

back covers plain, front covers diagonally lettered in black:

1883

A MODERN LOVER

George Moore

facsimile of signature

spines gilt lettered:

MODERN

LOVER

short rule

VOL. I. [II.] [III.]

GEORGE MOORE

TINSLEY BROS.

There are two states:

Gathering P of Vol. III is as noted above, consisting of a single leaf, followed by an inserted 32-page catalogue; the front covers of all three volumes have the date 1883 set at about a 51-degree angle, with the lower edge of the 1 in the date lower than the word LOVER on the spines, with the figures slightly more than an inch from both the spine and the top edges.
Gathering P of Vol. Ill is a quarter sheet, consisting of a folding of two leaves, the second (pp [211-12]) being blank, generally with no inserted catalogue (at least one copy has been noted with a catalogue inserted between the two leaves of gathering P) following; the front covers of all three volumes have date 1883 set at about a 43-degree angle, and it is completely above the word LOVER on the spines; the figures are about 3/4 in (.75 in; 1.91 cm) from the spine and about 5/8 in (.63 in; 1.59 cm) from the top edges.

Previously unpublished, but basically the same theme as the poem, “La Maitresse Maternelle,” in Pagan Poems (A3).

A5-b Second edition

Title Page

A MODERN LOVER.

BY GEORGE MOORE,

AUTHOR OF A “MUMMER’S WIFE.”

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:

VIZETELLY & CO., 42 CATHERINE STREET, STRAND,

1885.

Launch

Published May 1885 at 3/6

Description

Height: 7 3/16 in; 7.19 in; 18.26 cm

Width: 4 7/16 in; 4.44 in; 11.27 cm

a16, B-K16, pp 320, comprising:

leaf of PRESS NOTICES of A MUMMER’S WIFE, pp [1-2];
half title, verso blank, pp [3-4];
title page, with

Perth:

S. COWAN AND CO., STRATHMORE PRINTING WORKS.

in center of verso, pp [5-6];

table of CONTENTS pp [7]-8;
text pp [9]-319;
p [320] blank;
followed by a 20-page inserted publisher’s catalogue dated May, 1885;
endpapers medium gray where facing;
all edges trimmed;
bound in bluish-gray cloth, publisher’s monogram device in brown in center of back cover, front cover stamped in brown, with decorative border at top and bottom and lettered

A MODERN LOVER

decorative rule

GEORGE MOORE

and double brown rules at top and bottom of spine, which is gilt lettered

MODERN

LOVER

rule

GEORGE

MOORE.

VIZETELLY & CO.

Text slightly revised throughout, with some additions. The most important changes are [formatted as a bulleted list for readability]:

chapter XIII, “Enfin,” six pages added at end;
chapter XVI, “Scandal,” two pages inserted in middle
chapter XVIII, “Mother and Mistress” (in first edition “Motherly Love” ), four pages inserted in middle
chapter XIX, “Success,” last half rewritten
chapter XXIII, “Difficulties Overcome,” ending changed by insertion of a section from chapter XXIV, “The Bridal Dress”
chapter XXX, “A Private View,” four pages added near end as substitution for a shorter passage

Subsequent impressions issued by Vizetelly at 2/- in a variety of bindings, variously listed on the title page as “Third Edition,” “Fourth Edition,” etc. The Vizetelly plates also were used for at least two other impressions issued by other publishers:

A5-b2 Seventh edition

Seventh Edition, Walter Scott Limited, London, March 1893.

A5-b3 American edition

An American edition, bearing the notation “Privately Printed for the trade, London,” published in Realistic Series, Classic Publishing Company, Chicago, n.d. (Stein Co.’s Library). Another issue, also in printed wrappers, has illustrations facing title page, pp 102, 166 and 220, and with imprint altered to “Chicago: The Stein Co., Publishers, 348-350 State St.” Both issues have Esther Waters listed on the title page as one of GM’s other books, so neither can be dated earlier than 1894; more likely 1899, for that is the date listed in the United States Catalog

for an edition published by Stein.

A5-2b First American printing

Title Page

A MODERN LOVER

A REALISTIC NOVEL

GEORGE MOORE

Author of “An Actor’s Wife,” “A Drama in Muslin.”

The Pastime Series. Issued Monthly. By Subscription $3.00 per annum. Vol. 36, Jan.

1890. Entered at Chicago Post Office as second-class matter.

[owl device]

CHICAGO:

LAIRD & LEE PUBLISHERS

1890.

Launch

Published January 1890 at 25￠. Dated thus on the title page, but not necessarily the actual date of publication as these various series, issued in the United States at this period, were required by postal law to date publications in monthly sequence to maintain periodical mailing rates, and frequently the dates had little connection with reality.

Description

Height: 7 3/8 in; 7.38 in; 18.73 cm

Width: 5 in; 12.7 cm

[1]8, 2-198, 208; pp 308, comprising:

publisher’s advertisements pp [1-3];
illustration p [4];
title page, with table of CONTENTS on verso, pp [5-6];
text pp [7]-306;
publisher’s advertisements pp [307-8];
all edges trimmed;
wire stapled;

Issued in two styles (no priority established) of paper binding:

Green paper wrappers with publisher’s advertisement on back, front cover lettered:

A Modern Lover [in red]

By GEORGE MOORE

ILLUSTRATED

illustration

two line postal notice, differing slightly from notice on title pag]

long rule

Chicago: LAIRD & LEE, Publishers

and lettered down the spine:

A MODERN LOVER — Moore

Gray paper wrappers, with publisher’s advertisement on back, notation of series, subscription rate, number, and postal information as on title page printed in black in two lines at top of front cover, followed by black rule and lithographed cover design in gray and red, incorporating:

The

LIBRARY

REALISTIC

FICTION

and medallion portrait of Emile Zola at top and publisher’s name and medallion portraits of Alexandre Dumas Fils and George Moore at bottom, with panel in center lettered in red:

A MODERN LOVER

GEORGE MOORE

Author of “An Actor’s Wife,” etc.

ILLUSTRATED

and lettered in black down the spine:

A MODERN LOVER

MOORE

The text of the second English edition (A5-b) was used for this unauthorized reprint, and the plates of this edition were used for at least three other impressions:

A5-2b+1 Popular Series

Popular Series (?). Another impression, but with postal notice removed from title page, was issued in an elaborately decorated yellow cloth binding matching “Popular Series” edition of A Mummer’s Wife (A6-2b2) and it probably precedes the “Columbia Series” impression (A5-2b2).

A5-2b2

Columbia Series, issued in dark blue, elaborately decorated cloth, Laird and Lee, Chicago, circa 1892-93.

A5-2b3

L. Lipklnd, New York, circa early 1900s, issued in orange wrappers and printed in 16s, although retaining the signings in 8s.

Bibliographical Comment

A Modern Lover was rewritten and republished in 1917 as Lewis Seymour and Some Women (A36). The sonnet by GM, shown in a reproduction of an autograph manuscript in Volume X of The Ashley Library: A Catalogue of Printed Books, Manuscripts and Autograph Letters is the one used at the close of both A Modern Lover and Lewis Seymour and Some Women.

Source: Curated by George Moore Interactive LLC (georgemooreinteractive.org) — Shared for research, educational, and personal use.