Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray Value Guide

This 1963 Riverside Edition of Vanity Fair, published by Houghton Mifflin Company, represents a significant mid-century academic printing of William Makepeace Thackeray's 1848 masterpiece. It is highly collectible for students of English literature and those seeking the specific scholarly apparatus and typography unique to the Riverside series of the 1960s.

What Is Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray Worth?

The typical price range for Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray is $8 - $12 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Overall physical condition, specifically the presence of spine creasing or yellowing of the paper.
• Absence of student marginalia, highlighting, or ink inscriptions common in academic copies.
• Completeness of the text, including any specific introductions or appendices included in the 1963 printing.
• The integrity of the softcover glue binding, which can become brittle over sixty years.

How to Identify Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray?

• Verify the 'Riverside Edition' branding on the front cover and spine.
• Check the title page for the Houghton Mifflin Company imprint and the 1963 copyright date.
• Confirm the softcover binding material and the specific mid-century graphic design typical of the era.
• Look for the series editor's name, which is a hallmark of this specific academic release.

History of Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

First published in 1848, 'Vanity Fair' is a satirical novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, set during the Napoleonic Wars. It follows the lives of two contrasting female protagonists, Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, navigating the complex social landscape of 19th-century Britain. The novel is celebrated for its incisive social commentary and enduring characters, making it a staple of English literature.