1870 Rare First Edition - Vikram and the Vampire; or, Tales of Hindu Devilry

Author: Richard F. Burton. Illustrated by Ernest Griset.
Title: Vikram and the Vampire; or, Tales of Hindu Devilry.
Publisher: London, Longmans, Green, and Co., 1870. First edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7 x 5 inches. 
Pages: xxiv-319 pages..
Binding: A Near Fine, handsome later full black morocco binding by The Chelsea Bindery, with raised bands, gilt compartments, gilt-lettered title and author on the spine, and the date “1870” at the foot. Single gilt-ruled borders to both boards. Gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, and all edges gilt. An elegant and restrained fine binding, clearly signed “THE CHELSEA BINDERY” at the foot of the inner turn-in (hinges fine) under a protective removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light foxing or staining - as shown, engraved ex-libris is present on the first endpaper - as shown, the Table of Contents and Preface are bound out of order, a binding irregularity noted for accuracy; however, the Introduction and the main body of the text are in correct order and entirely sound). A very attractive and solid text block.
Illustrations: Illustrated with thirty-three full-page and in-text wood engravings by Ernest Griset, including the frontispiece. The illustrations are crisp, well-inked, and complete, forming one of the highlights of the volume.

Estimate: (USD 1200 — 1500).

The book: Vikram and the Vampire is one of the most evocative and influential Victorian works inspired by Eastern folklore. Adapted by Sir Richard Francis Burton from Sanskrit sources related to the Vetala Panchavimshati, the book presents a cycle of darkly imaginative tales framed by philosophical riddles and supernatural encounters. This first edition of 1870, here offered in a finely executed Chelsea Bindery morocco binding, is particularly prized for Ernest Griset’s striking illustrations, which give vivid visual form to Burton’s macabre and fantastical narrative world. Despite the noted binding irregularity affecting the preliminary leaves, the book remains a highly desirable and collectible example of Victorian Orientalist literature.

The author: Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821–1890) was one of the nineteenth century’s most remarkable explorers, linguists, and writers. Fluent in numerous languages and deeply immersed in non-Western cultures, he is best known for his translations of The Arabian Nights and the Kama Sutra. His work consistently challenged Victorian conventions and expanded Western literary engagement with Eastern traditions.

The illustrator: Ernest Griset (1844–1907) was a Franco-British illustrator celebrated for his imaginative and often darkly humorous style. His illustrations for Vikram and the Vampire rank among his most admired achievements, combining Gothic atmosphere with precise narrative detail, and contributing significantly to the book’s enduring appeal.