“ON THE LIBRARY WALL… HANG TWO CROSSED SWORDS”: FIRST EDITION IN THE ORIGINAL 24 PARTS OF THACKERAY’S VIRGINIANS, 1857-59, THE FINAL BOOK ILLUSTRATED BY THACKERAY HIMSELF

THACKERAY, William Makepeace. The Virginians: A Tale of the Last Century. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1857-59. Octavo, 24 original parts in original yellow printed wrappers, uncut and occasionally unopened. Housed in custom clamshell box. $850.

First edition in original parts, first issues, with all plates and most advertisements, of Thackeray’s tale of brethren divided during the American Revolution, the last book the author himself illustrated.

Like his contemporary (and rival) Charles Dickens, Thackeray visited the United States (first in 1852-53, again in 1855-56); unlike his fellow novelist, however, Thackeray "had on the whole a happy time… He was willing, as Dickens had not been, to see the greatness of the country and recognize that the promise of the future atoned for the shortcomings of the present… Impressions of the second tour were worked into The Virginians," Thackeray's continuation of the family saga he began in The History of Henry Esmond (1852) (Baugh et al., 1358-59). Here, the author traces the fortunes of Henry Esmond's grandsons as the Revolutionary War divides them. With 48 engraved plates and several small in-text woodcuts by Thackeray—the last book he himself illustrated. First issue, with the first word on page 207, line 15 from the bottom (in No. 7) misprinted "actresses" (corrected in later editions to "ancestresses"); in part 12, chapters XLVII-XLVIII misnumbered XLVIII-XLIX. The following parts conform in all particulars to the bibliographer's descriptions: 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 21, 22. The following parts fully conform except for being without the original tissue in between plates: 4, 5, 9, 16. Part 20 includes the explanatory slip regarding omitted plates. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the bibliographer's copy, which has a publisher's catalogue at rear of Part 24, may be anomalous. Afterward published in book form (two clothbound volumes, dated 1858 and 1859). Van Duzer 232. Small blindstamp to front wrapper of Parts 12-13, 15-19, 21-24 (also to advertiser in Part 23).

Scattered light foxing. Loss to explanatory slip in Part 20, affecting text. Wrappers lightly rubbed and soiled; mild loss to some spine ends. An extremely good set in the original parts.