William Harrison Ainsworth — The Spendthrift a Tale

London, George Routledge and Sons Limited, [1857]. First edition. Leather. A pleasing first edition of Ainsworth's novel in which a young hedonist gambles away his family's fortune. A pleasing first edition of Ainsworth's fictional novel, following Frank Baverley, a young wealthy heir doomed to squander his family's fortune on his lavish lifestyle and reckless gambling habits. Bound in half calf. With entertaining illustrations by Hablot K. Browne, collated complete.First published in serial in Bentley's Miscellany from January 1855. Bound in half calf. Externally, very smart. With light rubbing to extremities and joints. The odd mark to cloth. Upper front and rear joints cracked but holding. Small chips to leather at head and tail of spine. Internally, firmly bound. Scattered spotting, heaviest to blanks fore edges and prefatory matter. Closed tear to frontispiece at lower gutter. Light blue tidemark stain to extremity of frontispiece. The odd mark or spot throughout. Minor age toning. Very Good . Ill.: Hablot K. Browne. Very Good .