The Life and Adventures of Oliver Goldsmith, John Forster — 1st Edition

£150.00

The Life and Adventures of Oliver Goldsmith, John Forster — 1st Edition

Name: The Life and Adventures of Oliver Goldsmith, John Forster — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5681
Price: 150.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Bradbury & Evans; and Chapman & Hall, 1848

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xvii, [3], 704.

Condition Report: Very Good. Bound in the publisher's original morocco-grained green cloth, featuring elaborate blind-stamped borders and bright gilt portrait vignettes of Oliver Goldsmith to the upper and lower boards. As is typical of green Victorian cloth, the spine has uniformly sunned to a warm tan, though the gilt titling and compartmental decorations remain fully legible. There is minor rubbing to the spine ends and corner tips, but the boards are remarkably clean, and the structural integrity of the binding is excellent with no cracking to the joints. All edges are brightly gilt. Internally, the text block is square and securely seated. The pages remain generally crisp and clean, showing only occasional instances of mild, isolated foxing characteristic of paper from this era. An attractive, well-preserved survivor in its original state.

Catalogue Note: First edition of John Forster's definitive 19th-century biography of Oliver Goldsmith. The work opens with a printed dedication to Forster's intimate friend and frequent collaborator, Charles Dickens.

This first printing is especially desirable when retained in its original publisher's cloth, as many contemporary copies were subsequently rebound in leather. The text is richly enhanced by numerous wood-engraved illustrations supplied by an array of prominent Victorian artists.

While copies in original cloth do appear on the open market, they are frequently compromised by failed hinges and severe wear; copies retaining such firm internal bindings and unoxidized board gilt are increasingly uncommon.

A captivating 19th-century portrait of Oliver Goldsmith, the Irish novelist, playwright, and poet whose works, most notably The Vicar of Wakefield and She Stoops to Conquer, left an indelible mark on English literature. Authored by the prominent critic, historian, and pseudo-literary agent John Forster, this comprehensive biography traces Goldsmith's vibrant and often turbulent life. From his early struggles with poverty and aimless wandering across Europe to his eventual triumph as a central figure in Samuel Johnson's elite literary circle, Forster provides a deeply sympathetic, meticulously researched account of a flawed but brilliant literary giant.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: John Forster

Book Publisher: Bradbury & Evans; and Chapman & Hall

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Autobiography, Biography & Memoirs

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 704

Book Publication Year: 1848

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: John Leech, Richard Doyle, Clarkson Stanfield

Book Series: N/A

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.