[HARDY, Thomas (1840-1928), association]. -- LEA, Hermann (1869-1952). A group of 5 works and other related material, comprising:

A Handbook to the Wessex Country of Thomas Hardy's Novels and Poems. Hermann Lea, introduction. London: Kegan Paul, n.d. [1905]. 2 copies, in cloth and wrappers. -- Thomas Hardy's Wessex. London: Macmillan and Co., 1913. FIRST EDITION. [Inserted with:] 2pp. ALS ("H. Lea") and ("H.L."), Dorchester, 28 November 1917, describing this work. -- Another copy, in the scarce dust jacket. FIRST EDITION. [Laid in:] Photograph of Lea as seen on p.10 of "Thomas Hardy Through the Camera's Eye" (Toucan Press, 1964), INSCRIBED BY LEA on verso to E.N. Sanders, editorial staff member at The Strand Magazine. [With:] Another photo, SIGNED BY THE LEA. -- The Wessex Novels Series. Pictorial Post Cards. Organford, Wareham: Perkins & Lea, n.d. [ca 1910]. 5 (of 6) real photo postcards in original printed envelope illustrating scenes from Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd. -- Thomas Hardy's Wessex. London: Macmillan and Co., 1925. JOHN FOWLES COPY, with a gift inscription to the English author. Together, 5 works in 5 volumes and a set of postcards, all in original bindings, condition generally very good.

In 1898, Lea met Thomas Hardy and the two quickly became close companions. As a photographer and author, Lea accompanied Hardy on extensive tours of Wessex, taking numerous photographs of the places Hardy identified as being mentioned in his novels. This tour would be published in 1905 as A Handbook of the Wessex Country by Lea in close consultation with Hardy. His photographs would also be published in his work Thomas Hardy's Wessex (1913).

This lot is located in Chicago.