8vo. In two volumes. [4], 199, [1]; [4], 181pp, [1]. With half-titles. First edition, first issue, with the original title-leaves dated 1880 intact. Published on 15th December 1880, the following year the publisher inserted cancelled titles dated 1881 into their remaining copies. Contemporary green half-morocco, marbled boards, lettered in gilt. Lightly rubbed and sunned, very small worm-hole to Vol. I spine, ink-spot to upper board of Vol. II. Marbled endpapers, ink ownership inscriptions of 'Halsey Ricardo / December 1884' to blank fly-leaves, internally clean and crisp.

A first edition of novelist and poet George Meredith's (1828-1909) fictionalised account of the latter years of the life of German-Jewish socialist and political activist, Ferdinand Lassalle.

Halsey Ricardo (1854-1928), architect of the Arts-and-Crafts movement.