![[GOLDSMITH, Oliver (ca 1730-1774)]. The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale. Supposed to be written by Himself. Salisbury: Printed by B. Collins for F. Newbery, 1766.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2001/NYR/2001_NYR_09878_0052_000(033318).jpg?w=1)
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[GOLDSMITH, Oliver (ca 1730-1774)]. The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale. Supposed to be written by Himself. Salisbury: Printed by B. Collins for F. Newbery, 1766.
2 volumes, 12o (168 x 96 mm). (Titles with monor offset from binding at edges, horizontal tear repaired on D3 crossing text, lower fore-corner on E1 in vol. I renewed, G7 in vol. I with a tiny hole in lower margin causing loss of catchword "I" and just touching a letter on verso and with a short closed marginal tear, a few gatherings sprung, otherwise very fine.) Contemporary sprinkled calf, spine compartments gilt-ruled and with volume number gilt in one (minor wear to joints and spine ends); each in quarter morocco chemise and morocco-faced slipcase. Provenance: Miss Caroline De Bedee (contemporary gift inscription on front free endpaper in second volume: "To Miss Caroline De Bedee") -- purchased from John Howell Books, San Francisco, 16 October 1962.
A CHOICE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF GOLDSMITH'S MASTERPIECE, issue corresponding with Scott's variant "A" (or Rothschild's variant 1), save for the catchword on page 39 of vol. II (which is corrected in this copy). Although the manuscript for The Vicar of Wakefield was sold to the publisher Collins nearly four years earlier (through the celebrated intervention of Samuel Johnson), it was not published until 1766. "The occasion for the delay has been explained in various ways. One explanation is that it was held back until the Traveller, which came out in 1765, should have increased the author's reputation. It may have been, as Johnson told Boswell, that the publishers were afraid that the book would not sell" (Grolier). Its success was less than immediate, but its popularity grew so that by 1886 there had been nearly ninety-six editions printed, and numerous translations had appeared. Grolier English 53; Rothschild 1028; Scott Goldsmith, pp. 173-75; Sterling 400; Tinker 1110; Williams, pp. 136-38. (2)
2 volumes, 12o (168 x 96 mm). (Titles with monor offset from binding at edges, horizontal tear repaired on D3 crossing text, lower fore-corner on E1 in vol. I renewed, G7 in vol. I with a tiny hole in lower margin causing loss of catchword "I" and just touching a letter on verso and with a short closed marginal tear, a few gatherings sprung, otherwise very fine.) Contemporary sprinkled calf, spine compartments gilt-ruled and with volume number gilt in one (minor wear to joints and spine ends); each in quarter morocco chemise and morocco-faced slipcase. Provenance: Miss Caroline De Bedee (contemporary gift inscription on front free endpaper in second volume: "To Miss Caroline De Bedee") -- purchased from John Howell Books, San Francisco, 16 October 1962.
A CHOICE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF GOLDSMITH'S MASTERPIECE, issue corresponding with Scott's variant "A" (or Rothschild's variant 1), save for the catchword on page 39 of vol. II (which is corrected in this copy). Although the manuscript for The Vicar of Wakefield was sold to the publisher Collins nearly four years earlier (through the celebrated intervention of Samuel Johnson), it was not published until 1766. "The occasion for the delay has been explained in various ways. One explanation is that it was held back until the Traveller, which came out in 1765, should have increased the author's reputation. It may have been, as Johnson told Boswell, that the publishers were afraid that the book would not sell" (Grolier). Its success was less than immediate, but its popularity grew so that by 1886 there had been nearly ninety-six editions printed, and numerous translations had appeared. Grolier English 53; Rothschild 1028; Scott Goldsmith, pp. 173-75; Sterling 400; Tinker 1110; Williams, pp. 136-38. (2)