A finely bound Victorian edition of The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith, published by William P. Nimmo of Edinburgh.
First published in 1766, The Vicar of Wakefield is one of the classics of English literature. Blending humour, sentiment and social commentary, the novel follows the fortunes of Dr. Primrose and his family through adversity, misfortune and eventual redemption. Goldsmith's timeless work has remained continuously in print for over two centuries and is regarded as one of the great novels of the eighteenth century.
This attractive Victorian edition is presented in an elaborately decorated publisher's red cloth binding with gilt and blind-stamped decoration to the boards and spine. It includes a hand-coloured frontispiece illustration and retains bright decorative covers. The binding shows expected wear at the spine ends with a small loss to the head of the spine, while the text block remains sound. Some age toning and scattered foxing are present, particularly to the page edges.
A handsome nineteenth-century edition of a literary classic, ideal for collectors of Victorian bindings and English literature.
Key Information
- Title: The Vicar of Wakefield, Poems and Essays
- Author: Oliver Goldsmith
- Publisher: William P. Nimmo
- Place of Publication: Edinburgh
- Publication Date: c.1870s–1880s
- Edition: Victorian decorative edition
- Binding: Original decorated publisher's cloth
- Dust Jacket: No, as issued
- Illustrations: Hand-coloured frontispiece
- Language: English
- Format: Hardback
Condition Report
- Original decorated red cloth binding with gilt decoration.
- Small loss and wear to the head of the spine.
- Light rubbing to corners and extremities.
- Binding remains firm and secure.
- Hand-coloured frontispiece present.
- Pages generally clean with age toning throughout.
- Scattered foxing and darkening to page edges.
- Overall a good Victorian collector's copy.