The Kickleburys on the Rhine, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh (William Makepeace Thackeray)

£125.00

The Kickleburys on the Rhine, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh (William Makepeace Thackeray)

Name: The Kickleburys on the Rhine, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh (William Makepeace Thackeray)
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5064
Price: 125.00 GBP
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The Kickleburys on the Rhine, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh (William Makepeace Thackeray) — 1866 Edition

Publication: London, Smith, Elder, & Co., 1866

Formatting: Square 8vo, pp. [vi], xv, [i], 87.

Condition Report: Very Good. Bound in the publisher's original blind-stamped plum cloth with a gilt vignette and titling to the front board, this copy remains highly presentable. Protected by a mylar cover, the cloth exhibits a pleasing brightness, though it displays mild, expected rubbing to the extremities, minor bumping to the corners, and slight, historic wear at the spine head and tail. The binding remains tight and structurally sound, with secure hinges and firm yellow endpapers. Internally, the text block is very well preserved; the pages and the sixteen hand-coloured plates (including the frontispiece and title vignette) show occasional, localised foxing and minor age-toning typical of the era, but are overwhelmingly bright and clean. All edges gilt. An altogether handsome, well-preserved surviving example.

Catalogue Note: This 1866 printing of The Kickleburys on the Rhine, published by Smith, Elder, & Co., is a vibrant later issue of William Makepeace Thackeray's celebrated Christmas Book. Originally published in late 1850 under his famous pseudonym, Mr. M. A. Titmarsh, the work was issued in both plain and hand-coloured states. This copy boasts the highly desirable hand-coloured plates, sixteen in total, including the frontispiece and title vignette, beautifully capturing Thackeray's own satirical illustrations.

As an early posthumous reprint by Smith, Elder, & Co., this volume successfully reproduces the charm of the true firsts and the notable 1851 Second Edition (which first introduced his famous defensive preface, An Essay on Thunder and Small Beer). Mid-century printings of Thackeray's Christmas books in their original, un-restored publisher’s cloth are becoming increasingly scarce on the open market, particularly when the delicate hand-colouring remains this vivid and intact.

Written and illustrated by William Makepeace Thackeray under his popular pseudonym Mr. M. A. Titmarsh, The Kickleburys on the Rhine is a sharp, satirical romp through 19th-century Europe. The narrative follows the pretentious English Kicklebury family as they embark on a grand cultural tour down the Rhine, encountering a delightfully chaotic cast of eccentric characters, social climbers, and European nobility. Originally part of Thackeray's celebrated series of 'Christmas Books,' this work masterfully blends his biting literary wit with whimsical artwork, offering a timeless and humorous critique of the English upper classes abroad.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: William Makepeace Thackeray (Mr. M. A. Titmarsh)

Book Publisher: Smith, Elder, & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Humour Fiction

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 87

Book Publication Year: 1866

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.