text part E reset in folio (formerly in pamphlet form). In the first state of the second edition, these portraits are pasted into decorative frames sold by Wilhelmus Koninck; in the second, they are pasted into the outer framing of existing Tafereel plates borders. The third edition retains that format, but it is readily distinguished by its “decorative binding of brown marbled calf associated with an Amsterdam atelier known as the Double Drawer Handle Bindery . . . The [relatively] fixed sequence of the plates in this edition could be realized only by selling the copies bound up, which demonstrates that its publishers no longer had any intention to present the Tafereel in its original theatrical framework. Instead they sold the Tafereel as a luxury picture book” (Forrer). The fourth edition of 1780 is also found in a distinctive binding, but the late publication date and lack of any notable additions make it less desirable. The copy contains 73 plates, comprising Muller numbers 1–44, 47–70, and 73 (plate 27 is a variant of 18, both present, plate 74 a variant of 73, the latter only present), and supplementary numbers 2–4 and 6 (portraits of John Law, Madame Law, and James III, and a map of Louisiana). All copies differ in their plate inclusion and/or sequence, any omissions from Muller’s list reflecting the book’s composition from available plates at the time of construction, not the removal or loss of plates at a later date. Tall folio (400 × 244 mm). Contemporary Dutch trade binding of mottled calf, black calf spine label, spine richly gilt in compartments, raised bands tooled in gilt, boards elaborately panelled with three concentric patterned gilt- tooled rectangular frames, ornate gilt centrepiece, edges marbled. With 73 plates, many folding. Letterpress title page printed in red and black (second state). Complete with textual parts A–E. Early 20th-century book label of Jan Steenks to front pastedown, old bookseller’s description to front free endpaper. Joints and extremities repaired, neat repair to engraved title, browning to letterpress pages, tiny chip to top fore corner of F2 without affecting text, a few peripheral short closed tears or chips, a few plates with splits along central creases or minor chips along same. A very good copy. ¶ Goldsmiths’ 5879, Kress 3217; Sperling 205. Arthur Cole, The Great Mirror of Folly . . . An Economic-Bibliographical Study (1949), William N. Goetzmann, Catherine Labio, K. Geert Rouwenhorst, and Timothy G. Young, eds., The Great Mirror of Folly: Finance, Culture, and the Crash of 1720, 2013. Kuniko Forrer, “Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid, A Bibliographical Interpretation”, in: The Great Mirror of Folly: Finance, Culture, and the Crash of 1720 , 2013. £12,500 [152243]
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185 THACKERAY, William Makepeace. Vanity Fair. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1848 First edition in book form, in a handsome binding. “Modern editions of this classic novel almost invariably omit Thackeray’s vignettes and often give only a selection from his etchings. The reader is deprived thereby not only of much amusement but also of important clues to the meaning of the story” (Ray). The novel, published in serial form from 1847 to 1848 and afterwards in book form, proved a popular success, and sheets were already being reprinted before serialization was complete, resulting in 210 variant readings by the count of the bibliographer Shillingsburg, all still properly first editions. Copies almost always comprise a mix of sheets from these printings. Octavo (217 × 137 mm). 20th-century calf by Zaehnsdorf, dark green morocco labels, spine gilt in compartments with central floral devices in black, triple gilt rule to covers, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. With 1 leaf of advertisement bound before frontispiece, vignette title page, and 38 plates by Thackeray. Binding lightly rubbed, contents clean; an excellent copy. ¶ Ray, The Illustrator and the Book in England from 1790 to 1914 , 121; Wolff 6699. For the complex points for this title, see Peter L. Shillingsburg, “The Printing, Proof-reading, and Publishing of Thackeray’s Vanity Fair : The First Edition”, Studies in Bibliography , vol. 34, 1981. £2,250 [152617]
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The first edition was printed in 1720. The second edition was published in 1721–3, featuring new portraits of John Law, Madame Law, and James III, and
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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