[Beckford (William)] [Vathek] An Arabian Tale, from an Unpublished Manuscript: with Notes Critical and Explanatory, first (but unauthorised) edition, with errata leaf but lacking final blank (as often), p.48 misnumbered "84", woodcut illustrations of fans to p.316, a little foxed, bookplate of Charles Robin Holloway, later red straight-grain morocco, by Roger de Coverly & Sons in the style of Roger Payne, covers tooled with single gilt fillet border and circle & floral stems forming corners of panel, spine titled in gilt and elaborately tooled in compartments with five raised bands, g.e., joints and corners slightly rubbed, preserved in modern red morocco-backed cloth slip-case, spine richly gilt in similar style, [Chapman 3(A).i; Garside, Raven & Schowerling 1786:15; Rothschild 352], 8vo (193 x 115mm.), for J.Johnson, 1786.

⁂ A handsome copy of Beckford's influential Gothic novel, originally written in French and translated and edited by his friend Rev. Samuel Henley. Contrary to Beckford's wishes this edition preceded the first French edition which was published in December 1786 in Lausanne (but dated 1787).