The Vicar of Wakefield

1000058129.jpg 1000058131.jpg 1000058132.jpg 1000058133.jpg 1000058134.jpg Examine the pictures of this book and tell me about it.what it's about, when it was published, it's condition and grade, and the current market value of it in it's condition. Yes. I examined the cover, spine, copyright/printing page, and back cover closely. This is a legitimate 1963 Washington Square Press printing, and the printing information in your photographs is especially useful for identifying the exact copy. 📚 Book identification Title: The Vicar of Wakefield Author: Oliver Goldsmith (1728–1774) Publisher: Washington Square Press, Inc., New York Series/number: Washington Square Press Book W 254 Introduction: Ernest Brennecke Format: Small paperback/mass-market-style edition Length: Approximately 205 pages The library record independently identifies this as the Washington Square Press W 254 edition, New York, 1963, with 205 pages and an introduction by Ernest Brennecke. Most importantly — your exact printing The copyright page in your photograph states: 1st printing — November 1963 4th printing — December 1963 So your particular copy is the 4th printing of the Washington Square Press edition, December 1963. That distinction matters. It is not a first edition of the novel. Goldsmith's novel was originally published in 1766. However, it is an early printing of this particular Washington Square Press edition, only about a month after the first printing. 📖 What is the book about? The Vicar of Wakefield is Oliver Goldsmith's famous 18th-century novel and was his only novel. The story centers on Dr. Charles Primrose, a kind, somewhat naïve country vicar, and his wife Deborah and their children. At the beginning, the Primrose family is prosperous and happy. Then Dr. Primrose suddenly loses his fortune. The family is forced into a much poorer life, and from there things go from bad to worse. The family encounters: financial ruin broken engagements deception and fraud romantic entanglements betrayal social humiliation abduction and danger imprisonment mistaken identities Eventually, the family's fortunes begin to turn around. The novel combines comedy, sentiment, family drama and social satire. One of its major themes is the idea of maintaining goodness, faith and family loyalty despite terrible circumstances. It was originally published in 1766 and became one of the best-known and most widely read novels of the 18th and 19th centuries. 🕰️ Why this particular copy is interesting There are two things I particularly like about your copy from a collector's standpoint. 1. It's an early Washington Square Press printing Your copyright page gives us an unusually precise publication history: 1st printing — November 1963 4th printing — December 1963 That means Washington Square Press apparently sold through the initial printings quickly enough to reach a fourth printing within the same month. Bibliographic records also identify a 1963 4th-printing, 205-page paperback of this Washington Square Press edition. 2. It retains the original 45¢ cover price The upper-left corner of your front cover reads: W 254 45¢ That is consistent with an inexpensive mid-century paperback intended for mass-market distribution rather than a deluxe or limited edition.…