The Vicar of Wakefield, Oliver Goldsmith
First edition, first printing of Goldsmith's classic novel. Four variants of the first edition have been recorded, with minor misprints common to all four, this being Rothschild's variant 4, p. 159 of volume 2 misnumbered 165.
Salisbury: Printed By B. Collins, for F. Newbery, in Pater-Noster-Row, 1766. brown polished calf boards ruled in gilt with a decorative border in blind, rebacked to style with raised bands, decorated in gilt, spine labels titled in gilt; later endpapers, bound without original blanks, pp. (iv), 214. (ii), 223. Boards show a bit of general shelfwear and rubbing, gilt rubbed, bindings tight and sturdy. Scattered light foxing to pages, offsetting to title page and the first few pages of volume 1, "Vol I" on title page nearly rubbed away, thin strip mounted to top of title page of volume 2, presumably to cover a signature of which a portion is visible, pages 129-136 of volume 2 cut a little short but not affecting text. An attractive copy of this important novel, one of the most popular and widely read 18th century novels among Victorians.