Vanity Fair First with Letter

Thackeray, William Makepeace

Vanity Fair

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848. First edition, first issue.

A lovely copy of the first edition, first issue of Thackeray's most famous novel, illustrated by the author. This copy has all the first issue points: the ad for Thackeray's "The Great Hoggarty Diamond", the engraved and printed title pages both bear an 1848 date, the dedication is set in small type, the heading "Vanity Fair" at the beginning of Chapter One is in rustic type, the illustration of Lord Steyne is present on page 336 (it was removed from later printings), and Sir Pitt is incorrectly referred to as "Mr" on page 453.

This copy is further enhanced with an 1857 autograph letter signed by Thackeray to A. Edmonton of the Scottish publishers Edmonton and Douglass regarding financial terms for a lecture. The letter is mounted on paper with the original envelope affixed to the reverse and laid into the front of the book. Fine in a full burgundy morocco binding by Zaehnsdorf with a gilt spine, gilt board edges and turn-ins, brilliant marbled endpapers, and all edges gilt.

$2,400

[More pictures after the jump]

 

[Above] Title page, with illustrations engraved by Thackeray.

 

[Above] Controversial illustration removed from later printings.

[Above] Handwritten letter from Thackeray, included with this copy.