Fine Books & Manuscripts

THACKERAY, William Makepeace (1811–1863). Vanity Fair. A Novel Without a Hero. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848. 8vo. Frontispiece, engraved additional title, 38 full–page plates, and 150 in–textwoodcut illustrations (occasional spotting to plates, some offsetting from text and woodcuts, lacking ads). Early polished tan calf ruled in gilt, raised bands, gilt scrollwork in compartments, crimson morocco spine labels with gilt titles, all edges gilt, dentelle turn–ins, marbled endpapers (spine lightly rubbed); cloth slipcase. FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE with the heading on p. 1 in rustic type, the suppressed woodcut of “Marquis of Steyne” on p. 336, and “Mr. Pitt” for “Sir Pitt” on p. 453. An important landmark in Victorian literature. Grolier, 100 English, 87; Van Duzer 231.