Damascus and Palmyra: A Journey to the East. With a Sketch of the State and Prospects of Syria, Under Ibrahim Pasha (Two Volumes)

London: Richard Bentley, 1838. First Edition. Half Morocco. Green cloth pastedown on boards. Near Fine. William Makepeace Thackeray. Distinguished by the artwork of Thackeray, early in his career and before he had published his first novel. 8vo. 23 by 14.5 cm. xxvii, [1], 440, x, [2], 484 pp. With ten hand-colored plates done by Thackeray, who brings an impishness to the usually dry and flat renderings of costume plates in such books. Here the characters have expressions that tell us not everything is serene in their lives. The binding, probably Edwardian, is handsome, with Art Nouveau gilt filigree decorating the spine. The binding, done by H. Sotheran & Co., has the typical mild sunning issue of the once green spine becoming brown, but otherwise, the binding remains vibrant and attractive, with light edge wear the worst of it. Inside there are occasional light stains and fox marks, but for the most part, this is a clean, and tight, copy. (Inventory #: 20451)