William Makepeace Thackeray — Vanity Fair

London, Bradbury and Evans, 1848. First edition. Cloth. An early issue of the first edition of Thackeray's classic novel, set during the Napoleonic Wars. Illustrated throughout by the author himself. A first edition in book form, early issue; without the suppressed woodcut to page 336 of the first issue, and without the rustic type to page 1.With the engraved title page dated 1849, and the general title page dated 1849. The first issue is dated 1848 to both title pages.Illustrated with a frontispiece, engraved title page, and thirty eight further plates, in addition to a duplicate of the frontispiece facing page 619. Collated, complete.'Vanity Fair' is a satirical novel that pokes fun of the customs of the upper middle class in the nineteenth century. The novel follows Becky Sharpe and Emmy Sedley, two friends with vastly opposing personalities. The reader follows them through their trials and tribulations, looking at the strict social conventions of the era.Written by William Makepeace Thackeray. Thackeray is best known for his satirical works looking at English society, most especially for this novel. He tended to be quite savage in his attacks on society, publishing under various pseudonyms in his youth to avoid personal criticism. Bookplate of L. A. Shilcof to the front paste down, designed by Aubrey Beardsley. In the original publisher's cloth binding, rebacked, with renewed endpapers. Externally, generally smart. Crack to the rear joint. Light bumping to the head and tail of the spine and to the extremities, with a small amount of loss of cloth to the extremities. Light marks and rubbing to the cloth, with discolouration to the head of the front board. Spine is faded. Bookplate to the front paste down. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are lightly age-toned and generally clean with scattered spots. Repair to the advertisement leaf to the front, and to the engraved title. Good . Ill.: William Makepeace Thackeray. Good .