Antique Poetry Red Leather Book "The Works of Oliver Goldsmith"

Circa 1840s-1850s

Written In English

 

This mid-19th century edition of The Works of Oliver Goldsmith, published by Charles Daly in London around the 1840s or 1850s, showcases Goldsmith’s finest poems, comedies, essays, and the well-loved novel The Vicar of Wakefield. Featuring a biographical introduction by Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, this volume offers an insightful tribute to Goldsmith’s wit and literary talent during the Victorian era’s renewed interest in Enlightenment writers. Bound in rich red calf leather with intricate gilt floral designs, raised bands, and gilded edges, it was clearly crafted as a distinguished gift or prize. Along with Goldsmith’s major works like The Deserted Village and She Stoops to Conquer, this beautifully preserved edition combines literary richness with classic mid-19th-century bookmaking artistry.

 

Condition:

The leather remains supple and richly colored, with the gilt still bright and crisp. There is minor surface wear and rubbing to the edges and corners, as well as a darkened patch on the spine where a label or sticker was likely removed. The binding remains firm and the interior pages are clean, with only mild age toning to the endpapers. The all gilt edges (AEG) shimmer beautifully, and the illustrations remain sharp.