William Makepeace Thackeray — The Four Georges

London, Smith, Elder and Co, 1861 . First edition. Cloth. The first UK edition, first issue of William Makepeace Thackeray's history of the first four Hanoverian monarchs. Preceded by the US publication, this is the first issue of the first UK edition, identified via lack of comma after 'Elder' on title page, and the sixteen page publisher's catalogue dated November 1861.Illustrated with a frontispiece and one further plate - both retaining the original tissue guard - and further vignette illustrations. Collated, complete.With the bookplate of D. B. Anderson to the front free endpaper.A lovely copy of the publication of a series of lectures Thackeray gave on the history of the first four Hanoverian monarchs. Rebacked, in the publisher's original cloth binding, with back strip laid down and boards restored. Front hinge reinforced, retaining the original endpapers. Bumped to spine tail, otherwise externally excellent. Bookplate to front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound, but with binding strained between frontispiece and title page . Pages lightly age toned to perimeters, with the odd instance of light spotting and handling marks. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .