The Vicar of Wakefield
by [Rackham, Arthur] Goldsmith, Oliver
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Pasadena, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London: George G. Harrap & Company, 1929. First trade edition in the publisher's special deluxe binding.
Quarto (256 x 186 mm). Collating 231, [1]. Publisher's full olive Persian morocco, gilt stamped with multi colored morocco onlays, reproducing the color frontispiece "An Epitaph for my Wife." Gilt lettered spine. Top edge gilt. Pictorial endpapers. Twelve full page color plates, twenty-two black and white line drawings. Light foxing to preliminary leaves, otherwise a Near Fine copy.
One of the most popular books of the 18th century. This novel, both a work of sentimental fiction and a satire on the genre itself, follows the trials and eventual triumph of the Primrose family, led by the Rev'd Dr. Charles Primrose, the vicar. Goldsmith was a noted Irish wit and a member of Samuel Johnson's famed literary club, who Johnson praised as: "In genius, vivid, versatile, sublime. In style, clear, elevated, elegant." The legend of the book's publication is that Goldsmith was about to be arrested by his landlady for debt, when Johnson was able to sell the manuscript of the novel to a publisher for sixty pounds, saving his friend in the nick of time. "I brought Goldsmith the money, and he discharged his rent, not without rating his landlady in a high tone for having used him so ill."
Latimore and Haskell 65. Riall 170.
Quarto (256 x 186 mm). Collating 231, [1]. Publisher's full olive Persian morocco, gilt stamped with multi colored morocco onlays, reproducing the color frontispiece "An Epitaph for my Wife." Gilt lettered spine. Top edge gilt. Pictorial endpapers. Twelve full page color plates, twenty-two black and white line drawings. Light foxing to preliminary leaves, otherwise a Near Fine copy.
One of the most popular books of the 18th century. This novel, both a work of sentimental fiction and a satire on the genre itself, follows the trials and eventual triumph of the Primrose family, led by the Rev'd Dr. Charles Primrose, the vicar. Goldsmith was a noted Irish wit and a member of Samuel Johnson's famed literary club, who Johnson praised as: "In genius, vivid, versatile, sublime. In style, clear, elevated, elegant." The legend of the book's publication is that Goldsmith was about to be arrested by his landlady for debt, when Johnson was able to sell the manuscript of the novel to a publisher for sixty pounds, saving his friend in the nick of time. "I brought Goldsmith the money, and he discharged his rent, not without rating his landlady in a high tone for having used him so ill."
Latimore and Haskell 65. Riall 170.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Whitmore Rare Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 3721
- Title
- The Vicar of Wakefield
- Author
- [Rackham, Arthur] Goldsmith, Oliver
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- George G. Harrap & Company
- Place of Publication
- London
- Date Published
- 1929
Terms of Sale
Whitmore Rare Books
15 day return guarantee, with full refund if an item arrives damaged or not matching the description.
About the Seller
Whitmore Rare Books
Biblio member since 2009
Pasadena, California
About Whitmore Rare Books
We operate a retail shop in "Old Town" Pasadena open normal business hours Tuesday through Saturday.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Leaves
- Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Quarto
- The term quarto is used to describe a page or book size. A printed sheet is made with four pages of text on each side, and the...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- G
- Good describes the average used and worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted. (as defined by AB...
- Top Edge Gilt
- Top edge gilt refers to the practice of applying gold or a gold-like finish to the top of the text block (the edges the pages...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...