“THIS BOUILLABAISSE A NOBLE DISH IS—A SORT OF SOUP, OR BROTH, OR BREW…”

THACKERAY, William Makepeace. Ballads. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1855. Octavo, late 19th-century full tan crushed morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt; original printed paper wrappers bound in. $450.

First edition of Thackeray’s collection of comic verse, handsomely bound by Bradstreet’s with original wrappers bound in.

"The charm of Thackeray's work lies in the mingling of humor with pathos and indignation. There is hardly a piece that is not more or less funny, hardly a piece that is not satirical—and in most of them, for those who will look a little below the surface, there is something that will touch them. Thackeray, though he rarely uttered a word, either with his pen or his mouth, in which there was not an intention to reach our sense of humor, never was only funny. When he was most determined to make us laugh, he had always a further purpose—some pity was to be extracted from us on behalf of the sorrows of men, or some indignation at the evil done by them" (Anthony Trollope). Second issue, as almost always, with 1856 on the front wrapper: "a very few copies are known with the cover dated 1855" (Van Duzer). Van Duzer 6. Early owner signature on front wrapper.

Fine condition. A handsome volume.