"ALL GOLDSMITH'S WORK IS LIKE A TAPESTRY… THREADED THROUGH WITH GLOWING IMAGES AND TENDER BEAUTY"

GOLDSMITH, Oliver. The Works. Edited by Peter Cunningham. London: John Murray, 1854. Four volumes. Octavo, late 19th-century full blue polished calf, raised bands, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, marbled endpapers and all edges. $1200.

First edition of Cunningham’s esteemed edition of Goldsmith’s works, with vignette title pages, handsomely bound.

"All Goldsmith's work is like a tapestry… threaded through with glowing images and tender beauty" (Kunitz & Haycraft, 228). "Cunningham, whose scrupulous exactness is generally known, has furnished the first complete and accurate reprint of Goldsmith. Numerous errors which had crept into previous editions are corrected, omitted passages are restored and entire pieces have been added" (Allibone, 461). Includes The Vicar of Wakefield, The Bee, poetical works, dramas, essays, reviews and extracts from other works. Engraved frontispiece plate of Goldsmith's monument in Volume I.

A handsome set, with only minor rubbing to extremities of polished calf.