The Virginians; A Tale of the Last Century, W.M. Thackeray, Bradbury & Evans, 1858 first edition.

A complete 1858 first edition set of The Virginians by William Makepeace Thackeray, with all plates present. A sequel of sorts to Henry Esmond, the novel is set in the mid-eighteenth century and follows the fortunes of the Warrington twins as they move between England and colonial America. Blending historical narrative with social observation, Thackeray explores themes of loyalty, honour and identity against the backdrop of the Seven Years’ War and the wider Anglo-American world. Rich in character and period detail, The Virginians stands as one of his major later works, extending his exploration of history and society beyond the confines of contemporary Victorian life.

The Virginians; A Tale of the Last Century. By W. M. Thackeray (William Makepeace Thackeray). With Illustrations on Steel and Wood by the Author.

Published by Bradbury & Evans, London. 1858 First Edition. This is the first issue of the first edition, identifiable by the following issue points: in Volume I, page 207, line 33 reads “actresses” in place of “ancestress”, and Chapters 47 and 48 are misnumbered as 48 and 49. These points confirm the earliest state of the text as issued.

A good first edition set of hardbacks. With dark green leather spine and corners. The spine gilt tooled with raised bands. Boards with feathered marble paper. Covers scuffed and bumped with wear to extremities. Joints are rubbed. Marbled edges to text block. With a 19th century owner's inscription to recto of first free endpaper.

With feathered marble design endpapers. Text is generally very good throughout - endpapers have some foxing and there are occasional scattered spots. Vol. II has more substantial foxing at the beginning of the book and is cracked to gutter after first free endpaper. There is some darkening to the marginal edges of Plates, but on the whole these are in better state than is often found. Soundly bound. With illustrations in text, as well as Plates. One 1.5cm closed marginal edge tear to advertisement page at the end of volume I.

A good first edition set of a classic work by Thackeray.

Text in English.

Vol I: viii + 382pp + (1) Advertisement + 23 Plates (including Frontispiece); and; 

Vol II: viii + 376pp + 23 Plates (including Frontispiece). All Plates present as called for in both volumes.