Three Men In A Boat – First Edition – 3rd state?

[Anonymous]

Hello
I think I have a first ed. third state, although I’m not sure it fits the description precisely
Not in very good condition but might be of interest, if not great value.

From the page on this website I think I’ve identified most of the third state features:

Just ‘Quay Street’, there is no ’11’, on title-page.
Moon present p.20
Word ‘stream’ present end of p.271.

The element of doubt I have comes from the description for third state thus:
“the heading of the front endpaper is changed to ‘II QUAY STREET, BRISTOL’.”

My copy has ’11 Quay Street’ but is at bottom of page, beneath a list of 37 books.

At the top is:
Arrowsmith’s Bristol Library.
Fcap. 8vo, stiff covers, 1/-; cloth 1/6.
Saturday Review speaks of ARROWSMITH’s BRISTOL LIBRARY “as necessary to the traveller as a rug in winter and a dust-coat in summer.”

I’m not well-versed in the jargon associated with bindings, but I can tell you this copy has been rebound with marbled boards (Dutch Marble I think), and a leather spine and corners. The leather spine is damaged and split.

Inside front cover has a purple label : “W.H.Smith & Son’s Subscription Library” with detailed costs for annual fees etc.

I have no idea of value, but would be interested to hear if this did or did not fit with what was already known and if it is indeed a third state 1st Edn. I can send images if required.

Thanks!

[Author]

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