The Journal of William Beckford in Portugal and Spain 1787-1788, William Beckford

£42.50

The Journal of William Beckford in Portugal and Spain 1787-1788, William Beckford

Name: The Journal of William Beckford in Portugal and Spain 1787-1788, William Beckford
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4905
Price: 42.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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The Journal of William Beckford in Portugal and Spain 1787-1788, William Beckford (Edited by Boyd Alexander) — First Edition

Publication: London, Rupert Hart-Davis, 1954

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 340.

Condition Report: Very Good. The original claret cloth binding remains exceptionally tight, square, and structurally sound, with the gilt-lettered blue spine label presenting brightly without rubbing or oxidation. The text block is solid, and the hinges are entirely secure. Internally, the pages exhibit only very mild, uniform toning commensurate with the paper stock of the period, remaining clean and entirely free of foxing, staining, or previous ownership inscriptions. The original, unclipped dust-wrapper (retaining the 18s. net price on the rear panel) shows moderate sun-fading and toning to the spine, alongside light shelf-wear to the extremities, including a few minor nicks and slight rubbing at the spine head. It presents very attractively overall.

Catalogue Note: This is the true first edition thus, representing the first unexpurgated publication of William Beckford's original travel journals from his Iberian sojourn. Edited directly from the Hamilton muniments by Boyd Alexander, this edition restores the diverting and flamboyant entries that Beckford originally heavily redacted for his formalised 1834 publication. The volume is illustrated with a frontispiece portrait and includes further plates.

As an unclipped first edition retaining its original 1954 dust-wrapper, this is an increasingly uncommon survival in such well-preserved condition. It is a highly sought-after volume for collectors of 18th-century travel literature, Romantic-era eccentricity, and Beckfordiana.

William Beckford, the famously eccentric and fabulously wealthy author of the Gothic novel Vathek and builder of Fonthill Abbey, fled England under a cloud of scandal in 1785. During his subsequent travels through Portugal and Spain between 1787 and 1788, he kept a series of vivid, uninhibited journals. While Beckford published a highly polished and sanitised account of these travels in 1834, his original, far more entertaining manuscripts remained unpublished until Boyd Alexander edited this volume in 1954. Filled with sharp observations, witty architectural critiques, and flamboyant accounts of high society, this journal captures the unvarnished brilliance of one of England’s most fascinating dilettantes during his European exile.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: William Beckford, Boyd Alexander

Book Publisher: Rupert Hart-Davis

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Travel, Exploration & Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 340

Book Publication Year: 1954

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Frome and London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.

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