Beschreibung:

BECKFORD, William Thomas] Vathek , London: chez Clarke, New Bond Street, 1815. 8°, engraved frontispiece by Isaac Taylor after Isaac Taylor jun., engraved title vignette (frontispiece and title browned), errata slip at end, contemporary red calf elaborately ruled and tooled in gilt (lightly rubbed), g.e. Provenance : Scawen Blunt, Crabbet Park Library, bookplate. Third edition in French, and first edition published in England of Beckford's French text. The title vignette shows Vathek's eye surmounted by a turban, while the frontispiece represents the hero and Nouronihar before Ebblis. Chapman & Hodgkin p. 35. [ With the same author's :] Italy with sketches of Spain and Portugal , London: Richard Bentley 1834. 2 volumes, 8° (some browning to page edges, lacking half titles), contemporary half calf, 2 morocco labels on each spine (one label modern in each case, extremities lightly rubbed). FIRST EDITION under this title. Volume I is an abbreviated version of Dreams, Waking Thoughts and Incidents (1783), and Volume II a verbatim printing of Beckford's diary from March 1787 to January 1788. Chapman & Hodgkin p. 62. [ and :] Recollections of an Excursion to the Monasteries of Alcobaa and Batalha , London: Richard Bentley 1835. 8°, engraved portrait of Beckford by T. A. Dean after Sir Joshua Reynolds (offsetting to title, lacking half title), contemporary blue half calf and marbled boards, gilt panelled spine (extremities rubbed and scuffed), speckled edges. Provenance : Earl of Bradford, Weston Library, bookplate. The narrative is founded on a diary kept by Beckford for the period 3rd-14th June 1794, but is described by Chapman as "undoubtedly an original composition written at the age of seventy-five, and by far the best book that Beckford wrote." Chapman & Hodgkin pp. 67-68. (3)