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Goldsmith, Dr. [Oliver]
The Vicar of Wakefield. A Tale.
Publisher: Printed & Sold by D. Walker, Hereford;
Date of Publication: 1798
Stock Code: 12018
FIRST THUS. Two volumes in one. Octavo, pp. [9], 6-224. With 4 wood engraved plates and 3 wood engraved vignettes from the workshop of Thomas Bewick. Contemporary full tree calf with gilt titles to maroon label and gilt fillets to spine. Joints cracked but holding well; minor loss at head of spine. Inscription in ink to ffep: “Josiah Wedgwood Jr / Septr 1804/ The gift of his uncle Thomas”. David Walker commissioned Bewick to provide cuts for this edition following his similar arrangement for Goldsmith’s “Poetical Works” in 1794; he eventually prevailed upon Bewick to supply them after a lengthy wait while Bewick worked on his own “Land Birds”. As a consequence the plates are the work of apprentices and there was no further association between Walker and Bewick. The title-page vignette and one plate are hand-coloured. Josiah Wedgwood II of Maer Hall in Staffordshire (1769-1846) was the son of the famous potter of the same name; he continued in the pottery business, was MP for Stoke and a keen abolitionist.
£250.00