The Vicar of Wakefield.
RACKHAM, Arthur (illus.); GOLDSMITH, Oliver.
Published by London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, 1929
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Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
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About this Item
Description:
Signed limited edition, number 2 of 575 copies signed by the artist. This is one of ten "special copies" reserved by the publisher, specially bound, and with an original ink and watercolour drawing by Rackham (signed and dated 23 Oct. 1929). This drawing extra-illustrates the poem "An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog" from chapter 17. Harrap devised this format for this illustrated edition, and Riall notes that this quickly became the publisher's standard practice: by 1932, "Harrap issued nine or ten copies, seven being for sale, of a special issue of the first limitation numbers of the limited edition" (p. xvi). Describing his artistic method for these "specials", Rackham noted that "my little sketches must inevitably be of a light hearted or joking nature. They have to be spontaneous and free handed. The nature of the paper is such that there can be no preparatory drawing and no alterations". Originally published in 1766, Goldsmith's masterpiece was among the most popular novels of its age and it remains a classic of English literature. A contemporary review in The Bookman stated, "seldom have we seen such a beautiful edition of The Vicar as is this latest production, to which Mr. Arthur Rackham has brought the fruits of his rare and admirable talent. It would have been difficult to find another artist so perfectly fitted to interpret Oliver Goldsmith's little masterpiece. The format is very charming and at the same time dignified. a volume of real value". Latimore & Haskell, p. 65; Riall, p. 170. The Bookman, December 1929. Quarto. Colour frontispiece and 11 colour plates, black and white illustrations in the text, all by Rackham. Original red morocco, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, front cover with double lined border and initial "H." in gilt, rear cover with double lined border in blind, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, pictorial endpapers. Extremities a little rubbed, some minor surface scratches, occasional foxing and browning: a very good copy. Seller Inventory # 191182
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Vicar of Wakefield.
Publisher: London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, 1929
Signed: Signed by Author(s)