Thackeray, the Humourist and the Man of Letters.

TAYLOR, Theodore [pseud., attributed to John Camden Hotten]; DICKENS, Charles; TROLLOPE, Anthony. Thackeray, the Humourist and the Man of Letters: The Story of His Life and Literary Labours, Including a Selection from His Characteristic Speeches, Now for the First Time Gathered Together. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1864. FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. Octavo (8vo). viii, 242 pp. Publisher’s original dark brown pebble-grain cloth, boards ruled in blind, spine lettered in gilt. Illustrated with a tissue-guarded engraved frontispiece, “The Happiest moment of my life,” by William G. Jackman after George Cruikshank, together with a portrait of Thackeray, other illustrations, and a facsimile of his handwriting. An early biography of William Makepeace Thackeray, published shortly after his death and incorporating a selection of his public speeches. This American edition appends Charles Dickens’s memorial tribute, “In Memoriam” (pp. 224–231), and Anthony Trollope’s “W. M. Thackeray” (pp. 232–242), bringing together assessments by two leading contemporaries. Ephemera: Accompanied by an antique newspaper clipping containing a poem by Thackeray and a magazine clipping depicting Thackeray’s former home. Contents generally clean, with foxing concentrated on the frontispiece, tissue guard, and title page. Previous owner’s signature dated 1864 to the front free endpaper, which has a one-inch closed tear at the fore-edge. Binding remains sound and firm, with both boards securely attached. Cloth clean with small tears and wear at the crown and foot of the spine; spine lettering largely faded. A Very Good minus copy. References: Princeton University Library, Parrish Collection catalogue, WMT 307–309; CD 565. [Attributes: First American Edition; Hard Cover; Illustrated.]. …