The Works

First collected edition. The first 22 volumes are dated 1869, the last two (Miscellaneous Essays) were published in 1886, and it is very rare to find them together. Abundant illustration with plates (approximately 250 engravings) and text illustrations (1500 wood engravings) by the author, Doyle, Walker, Du Maurier and others. The novels contain a frontispiece and an engraved title. Some volumes still have conjugate leaves.
Publisher's full green cloth binding, gilt. Smooth spine elaborately gilt in compartments. Boards stamped in blind with decorative plate and central gilt monogram of WPT. One small split to headcap of volume 2 of The Newcomes, 2 to the Burlesques volume, otherwise headcaps sunken but superb set. Paper very clean with some foxing to endpapers and first leaves. Exceptionally fine preservation.
Armorial bookplate of the XIXth Baron de Bellet
Contents of the edition: VANITY FAIR vols. I-II; THE HISTORY OF PENDENNIS vols. I-II; THE NEWCOMES vols. I-II; THE HISTORY OF HENRY ESMOND; THE VIRGINIANS vols. I-II; THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP vols. I-II; THE PARIS SKETCH BOOK and THE YELLOWPLUSH PAPERS; THE MEMOIRS OF BARRY LYNDON and THE HISTORY OF SAMUEL TITMARSH AND THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND; THE IRISH SKETCH BOOK and NOTES OF A JOURNEY FROM CORNHILL TO GRAND CAIRO; THE BOOK OF SNOBS and SKETCHES AND TRAVELS IN LONDON; BURLESQUES; THE CHRISTMAS BOOKS OF MR. M.A. TITMARSH; BALLADS AND TALES; THE FOUR GEORGEES and THE ENGLISH HUMOURISTS; ROUNDABOUT PAPERS and THE SECOND FUNERAL OF NAPOLEON; DENNIS DUVAL and LOVEL THE WIDOWER; CATHERINE, LITTLE TRAVELS, and THE FITZBOODLE PAPERS; MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS, SKETCHES AND REVIEWS; and CONTRIBUTIONS TO "PUNCH.