London: Vizetelly & Co, 1888. First Edition in English. Translated from the Russian by Frederick Whishaw. 298, [2] pp. Octavo. Original publisher's olive green cloth lettered in red, floral endpapers, publisher's advertisement leaf at rear. Ink ownership inscriptions to head of front free endpaper and half-title, some toning to verso of half-title and title. Cloth a little stained and marked. But a Near Fine, unrestored copy overall of this rare work.

The exceedingly scarce first edition in English of these two novellas. While more minor works in the Dostoevsky canon, The Eternal Husband was reputedly Henry Miller's favorite of the author's works, with him writing, "Is there anything more perfect than The Eternal Husband?". All Vizetelly editions of Dostoevsky are scarce. The last copy of this title we can trace at auction appeared in 1911 (Henkels, The Magnificent Library of A. S. Whiton, lot 262) where it was described by the auctioneer as the "scarce Vizetelly edition."

1888 was a pivotal year for Henry Vizetelly and his publishing house, as he was charged with obscene libel for publishing his translation of Emile Zola's La Terre (The Soil). Despite being heavily fined and then imprisoned the following year, he continued publishing Zola's works (among others), resulting in further legal issues and fines. By the end of 1890 he filed for bankrupcy.

Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer (Grove Press, 1961), p. 11. Near Fine (Item #8252)