Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.

First edition, first issue (with the first issue dedication "to the wife of my youth.") of Wallace's classic work. Octavo, original decorated cloth. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket with a few small closed tears. Laid in is a one page autograph letter signed by Wallace to the editor of The Century Magazine in which the author encloses an installment of The Capture of Fort Donelson and apologizes for his delays (1 page, Crawfordsville, 8 October 1884). Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.