The Vicar of Wakefield.
London: John Van Voorst, 1843. William Mulready. First illustrated edition. Full morocco. 8vo. Pp. xv, [1], 306, [2]. All edges gilt. Bound in brown pebble-grain morocco, cover borders in gilt around an inner panel, in a faux-Cambridge manner, board edges and turn-ins gilt, five raised bands on spine with gilt borders and lettering. Free endpaper edges with offsetting corresponding to leather turn-ins, some light thumbing to fore-edge margins, corners just a tad worn. A sumptuous binding. Very Good. Item #7253 Mulready's illustrations, engraved by John Thompson, ably capture the spirit of Goldsmith's era.
An uncommon edition of Goldsmith's opus, with only two copies appearing at auction the last thirty years. Vicar first appeared in 1766 through the machinations of Samuel Johnson, who sold the novel at the author's behest: Goldsmith was unable to leave his house without being beset by creditors, while at the same time being threatened with eviction by his landlady.
Price: $300.00