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1843 OLIVER GOLDSMITH — THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELDFirst Mulready-Illustrated EditionExtra-Illustrated with 20 Additional EngravingsSigned Riviere Full Green Morocco BindingAll Edges Gilt
GOLDSMITH, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. With Thirty-Two Illustrations by William Mulready, R.A. London: John Van Voorst, Paternoster Row, 1843.
Octavo. xv, [1], 306 pp. With 32 wood-engraved illustrations after William Mulready, engraved by John Thompson and incorporated into the text.
A handsome extra-illustrated copy of the first Mulready-illustrated edition, bound by Riviere in full green morocco, with broad gilt-decorated turn-ins, red marbled endpapers and all edges gilt.
The volume is augmented with 20 separately inserted engraved plates, creating an individualized visual record of the novel beyond Mulready’s original published illustrations.
THE EXTRA-ILLUSTRATION
In addition to the 32 published Mulready illustrations, this copy contains 20 additional engraved plates.
Among them is George Cruikshank’s “The Family Picture,” dated 1830, depicting the comic episode in which the Primrose family commissions its extravagantly ambitious group portrait.
Other inserted engravings present alternative interpretations of Goldsmith’s characters and scenes, giving the volume the character of a deliberately extra-illustrated or grangerized copy.
Several of the added plates are unlettered, and some subjects occur in more than one impression. Their individual states have not been established, and no claim to proof status is made.
The practice of extra-illustrating this 1843 edition has historical precedent: an early bookseller’s catalogue records another copy with 31 additional plates, including Cruikshank engravings and proofs before letters.
FIRST MULREADY-ILLUSTRATED EDITION
This 1843 John Van Voorst edition is the first edition illustrated by William Mulready, with 32 black-and-white designs used as headpieces throughout the text.
The edition became a natural vehicle for later fine bindings and extra-illustration. Surviving copies are known in elaborate bindings by Riviere & Son, De Sauty, Sangorski & Sutcliffe, and others.
SIGNED RIVIERE BINDING
Bound in full green morocco leather by Riviere, stamp-signed:
BOUND BY RIVIERE
on the front turn-in.
The binding features:
- full green morocco
- five raised bands
- gilt spine lettering
- fine gilt rules to the covers
- gilt board edges
- broad gilt-decorated turn-ins
- red marbled endpapers
- all edges gilt
The exterior is restrained and elegant, allowing the grain and rich green color of the morocco to dominate, while the inner borders provide a more elaborate decorative treatment.
The binding is characteristic of Riviere’s polished late nineteenth- or early twentieth-century work: technically accomplished, refined and intentionally understated on the boards.
CONDITION
Very Good overall.
The binding remains sound, with both boards securely attached.
There is rubbing, scattered small scratches and shelf wear to the morocco, particularly at the raised bands, joints, corners and extremities, together with some variation in color.
The gilt spine lettering and decorative turn-ins remain clear and attractive.
The red marbled endpapers are well preserved, and the gilt page edges retain good color with normal handling wear.
Pencil inscriptions and notes appear on a preliminary leaf.
Internally there is general age toning and variable foxing and spotting. The foxing is most pronounced on the title leaves and several of the inserted engravings, with some plates showing substantial spotting extending into the images. The surrounding text leaves are generally cleaner.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
Author: Oliver Goldsmith
Title: The Vicar of Wakefield
Publisher: John Van Voorst
Place: London
Date: 1843
Edition: First Mulready-illustrated edition
Illustrator: William Mulready, R.A.
Pagination: xv, [1], 306 pp.
Published Illustrations: 32 wood engravings after Mulready
Additional Illustrations: 20 inserted engraved plates
Binding: Full green morocco by Riviere
Spine: Five raised bands, gilt lettering
Endpapers: Red marbled
Edges: All gilt
Binder’s Stamp: “BOUND BY RIVIERE”
A particularly appealing copy combining Victorian illustration, deliberate extra-illustration, and a signed English fine binding.
