A rare signed edition of Thomas Hardy’s Far From The Madding Crowd will be offered for sale at Cottees Auctions in Wareham.
The book, which is inscribed in Hardy’s familiar hand in black ink to the frontispiece, was entered on behalf of an elderly local lady who was clearing her bookshelves and did not know that the book was there until it was noticed by a neighbour who was helping her.
The message from Hardy reads: “In the cause of our defenders. Thomas Hardy. August 1915.”
It is possible that the book was inscribed by Hardy as a prize to raise funds for soldiers fighting in the First World War at the time. The book is estimated at £200-£300 and auctioneer John Condie hopes that a collector will want to acquire it.
“With a new film version of the book due to be released in May, 2015, which was once again filmed locally, Far From The Madding Crowd has great local connections,” said John.
Another rare book is also featured in the auction. A first edition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles is to be offered with an estimate of £800-£1,200.
The sale will take place at 10am tomorrow and the sale can be heard live online at the-saleroom.com
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