Eighteenth Century Vignettes – Austin Dobson – 1892 | Signed, Limited First Edition

Eighteenth Century Vignettes by Austin Dobson is a notable 1892 first edition of critical essays and character studies of notable 18^th-century persons and events. Dobson, who was known for his literary charm, offers sketches or ‘vignettes’ that explore the lives and works of figures such as William Hogarth, Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith, and William Cowper.

This limited edition contains each of the 7 finely engraved portrait engravings, and features a presentation page numbered no. 165 of 250, signed by Dobson himself.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Eighteenth century vignettes
• Author(s): Austin Dobson
• Illustrator(s): Faber, Watson, Townley, Bell, Marchi, Bartolozzi, Muller
• Publisher: Chatto & Windus, London
• Edition: 1892. First edition.
• Format: (4to), single volume
• Binding: Original quarter vellum
• Size:  9.75 in x 8 in (24.8 cm x 20.3 cm)
• Collation: 261 p
• Illustrations: 7 engraved portrait plates with tissue guards
• Contents Include:
  • Steele’s Letters
  • Spence’s Anecdotes
  • Fielding’s Voyage to Lisbon
  • Goldsmith’s Library
  • Bewick’s Tailpieces
  • A Day at Strawberry Hill
  • Old Vauxhall Gardens
• Provenance: Signed by the author, numbered no. 165 of 250

Condition:

Very Good. The original quarter vellum binding is rubbed and shows light staining, with some wear to corners, though gilt spine title remains legible. Pages are clean throughout and the text block is tight. All seven engraved portrait plates are present, each with intact protective tissue flyleaves.

Why Collect This?

• Signed by Austin Dobson; limited to 250 large-paper copies only
• Original 19th-century quarter vellum binding
• Features seven period portrait engravings in very good condition

Item Number: # 29507