The Vicar of Wakefield

London: George G Harrap, 1929. First edition. Vellum. Fine. 10.5" by 8". Arthur Rackham. A fine, de luxe, limited edition of Oliver Goldsmith's noted novel 'The Vicar of Wakefield'. Illustrated throughout, by the noted artist Arthur Rackham. Limited edition, numbered 279 of 575 copies printed. Signed by Arthur Rackham to the limitation page. With a frontispiece, and eleven plates. Collated, complete. A crisp copy of this beautifully presented work. During the "Golden Age" of British book illustration Rackham was one of its leading artists. Many of the works he illustrated were published in a De Luxe limited edition in addition to a smaller trade edition. This is one of the De Luxe editions, which were all bound in vellum bindings. Stylistically, Rackham"s illustrations reflected pen and India ink drawings. He used expressive line paired with a subtle use of watercolour to create his beautiful images.The Vicar of Wakefield is often referred to as a fictitious memoir novel. It contains several literary genres within its novel structure such as poems, histories and sermons. In the publisher's original vellum binding. Externally, in an excellent condition. A few light marks to boards, as is common with vellum. Internally, firmly bound. Fore-edge and bottom edge are uncut, as is common with this work. Pages are very bright. A few light spots to endpapers. Otherwise, pages are very clean. Fine