William Beckford — Vathek

A Londres [London], Chez Clarke, New Bond Street, 1815 . First edition. Leather. The first French language edition of William Beckford's classic Gothic novel to be published in England, a work celebrated by figures including Lord Byron and H. P. Lovecraft. In the original French.The first French language edition of this classic novel to be published in England, the first issue. With the New Bond Street address to the title page, rather than the later Mount Street address.Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece by Isaac Taylor, and an engraved title page.Former owner's inscription to front free endpaper.With a stamp reading Alexander Gardyne, 1883, to the verso of the title page.Lacking the errata leaf.First composed in French in 1782, the novel was first published in English in 1786, translated by Samuel Henley, against the wishes of the author. In a full calf binding, with gilt detailing to back strip. Front board detached, but present. Rear joint starting, with board firmly held. Rubbing to back strip head and tail. Tape repair to gutter of front free endpaper, with former owner's inscription to front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Spotting to frontispiece and title page, with pages otherwise generally clean and bright, with the odd spot. Good Only . Ill.: Not Stated. Good Only .