Vanity Fair

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848 . First edition. Leather. Good. 9" by 6.5". William Makepeace Thackeray. The first edition, first issue of William Makepeace Thackeray's classic novel, set during the Napoleonic Wars. The first edition in book form, first issue. With engraved and letterpress title page both dated 1848; with the suppressed woodcut of Marquis of Steyne on page 336, and with "Mr. Pitt" for "Sir Pitt" on page 453.Thackeray's novel follows the entangled adventures of two school friends, the gentle and trusting Amelia Sedley and the calculating Becky Sharp, as they come of age during the Napoleonic War. Thackeray displays an interest in deconstructing his era's conventions regarding heroism, with the work sometimes considered the foundation of the Victorian domestic novel.Illustrated with an engraved title page and frontispiece, and thirty-eight further plates, all the work of the author himself. Collated, complete.Lacking the initial advertisement leaf for "Great Hoggarty Diamond". Frontispiece laid down, with contemporary inscription dated 1849 to recto. Bookplate of D.B. Anderson and former owner's inscription to front free endpaper. Bookseller's label to head of front pastedown.A generally smart copy of a celebrated novel. Rebacked, in a half calf binding with back strip laid down, and boards restored. Significant rubbing to paper at centre of boards. Front joint starting, but holding firm. Rear hinge strained, but firmly held. Bookseller's label to head of front pastedown, bookplate and inscription to front free endpaper. Inscription to leaf adhered to recto of frontispiece. Internally, firmly bound. Plates age toned to perimeters, with significant spotting and foxing. Small tide marks to tail of plates. Pages lightly age toned, with significant handling marks throughout, and the odd spot. Good