Oliver Goldsmith — The Deserted Village

London, Constable & Company Ltd, 1909 . Cloth. A publisher's presentation copy of William Lee Hankey's beautifully illustrated edition of Oliver Goldsmith's 1770 poem 'The Deserted Village', a first edition thus. The trade edition of British painter and illustrator William Lee Hankey's edition of Goldsmith's work.With a 'Presentation Copy' blind stamp to the title page head. Illustrated with forty tipped in colour plates, and further vignette illustrations. Collated, complete.Goldsmith's work is a social commentary which denounces the depopulation of rural areas in the country, and the pursuit of excessive wealth. Written in heroic couplet, the work narrates the decline of a village as more and more people move to America. In the publisher's original pictorial cloth binding. Bumping to back strip head and tail, with back strip age toned. Handling mark to tail of rear board. Rubbing to front board perimeters. Front hinge strained, but firmly held. Internally, firmly bound. Blind stamp to title page head. Light spotting throughout. Very Good . Ill.: W. Lee Hankey. Very Good .