The Kickleburys on the Rhine, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh — 1st Edition

£95.00

The Kickleburys on the Rhine, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh — 1st Edition

Name: The Kickleburys on the Rhine, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5317
Price: 95.00 GBP
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The Kickleburys on the Rhine, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh [William Makepeace Thackeray] — First Edition

Publication: London, Smith, Elder, & Co., 1850

Formatting: 8vo, pp. [iv], 87, [1], [2 ad].

Condition Report: Fair. The book is offered in its original printed pictorial boards, a scarce survival, though presently heavily compromised by amateur historical repairs. A wide strip of clear adhesive tape has been applied along the entire length of the spine, overlapping onto the hinges to act as structural reinforcement for a failing backstrip. The pink boards themselves exhibit considerable darkening, surface soiling, and rubbing, alongside bumped and heavily worn corners. The binding remains firmly attached, though largely aided by the structural tape. Internally, the original endpapers show some offsetting and spotting. The text block and plates are generally sound, displaying occasional light handling marks, isolated instances of minor foxing, and faint age-toning to the extremities. Crucially, the fifteen hand-coloured plates remain pleasingly bright and well-preserved.

Catalogue Note: This is a first edition of William Makepeace Thackeray’s popular Christmas book, published under his enduring pseudonym, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh. The work is notable for featuring fifteen charming hand-coloured illustrations by Thackeray himself, consisting of a frontispiece, a vignette title page, and thirteen full-page plates, all vividly capturing the eccentricities of his characters.

While many of Thackeray's Christmas books were subsequently rebound by later collectors in handsome leather, encountering the work in its original pink printed pictorial boards, priced on the cover at "7s. 6d. Coloured," is distinctly uncommon. Despite the extensive external wear, this copy represents an authentic, unsophisticated survival of Victorian publishing history, retaining its original advertisement leaf at the rear.

A delightful and biting social satire, The Kickleburys on the Rhine follows the foibles of a respectable, and remarkably pompous, English family as they travel abroad. With sharp wit and keen observation, Thackeray skewers the snobbery, pretensions, and absurdities of the Victorian middle and upper classes on their grand European tours. Accompanied by the author's own humorous illustrations, it remains a thoroughly entertaining glimpse into the social dynamics of 19th-century British society.

Book Condition: Fair

Book Authors: Mr. M. A. Titmarsh [William Makepeace Thackeray]

Book Publisher: Smith, Elder, & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Humour Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 87

Book Publication Year: 1850

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: William Makepeace Thackeray

Book Series: Christmas Books

Country/region of manufacture: 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.