Oliver Goldsmith is a figure whose life sometimes appears as comic as a character of his stories, and one of the few literary figures of the eighteenth century who has survived into the modern day. His most famous works are The Vicar of Wakefield a satire and comedy of manners about a bumbling Vicar in Regency society, and She Stoops to Conquer, a romantic comedy of errors still studied and performed to this day.
Oliver Goldsmith was a figure whose life was set to become one of the greats, as monumental a figure as his closest friends Samuel Johnson and biographer James Boswell. However, greatness was, for Goldsmith apparently always just out of reach - primarily due to his life of loose living, gambling, and alcohol. This is a recurring theme throughout his career, as he was suspended from Dublin University (without honours) for rioting and fighting, and spent a year travelling Europe 'by his wits' (busking and gambling).
His literary works, however, are prodigious. He worked in London as what others regarded as a hack writer but in fact served him in good stead as he made many important connections and a steady income. His own literary works are many, numbering from plays to poems, but it is perhaps his work The Vicar of Wakefield that he is most well-known for. At one point, the comedy of errors was one of the most widely read novels of the Victorian era, with admirers ranging from Jane Austen to Goethe!
For the collector, it is important to remember the provenance of his works: a true first edition impression of The Vicar of Wakefield from B Collins is the most sought after prize, and a mint condition copy would cost as much as ten thousand US dollars. However, the good news is that a second edition copy from the same year but from a different publisher (F. Newbury, 1766) only costs as much as six hundred US dollars. When we consider that these are books almost 250 years old, we can see that the price really is negligible!
Goldsmith, Oliver. An Enquiry into the present State of polite Learning in Europe.. Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, London. (1759). First edition of Goldsmith's first book
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Citizen of the World. Printed for J Newberry, London (1762). Or Letters From A Chinese Philosopher, Residing In London, To His Friends In The East.; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Life Of Richard Nash Of Bath, Esq.. J. Newbery and W. Frederick, London (1762). Extracted Principally from His Original Papers; First and Second Editions released in same year.
Goldsmith, Oliver. An History of England. J. Newbery, London (1764). in a Series of Letters from a Nobleman to his Son; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. Essays. printed for W. Griffin, London (1765).
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield.. F. Newbery, London (1766). a tale, supposed to be written by himself; Second Edition-1000 copies; over 450 substantive readings (different from first edition); Also a pirated edition. 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. Le Ministre de Wakefield: Histoire supposee ecrite par lui-meme.. Chez Pissot, Paris (1767). The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale. Supposed to be Written by Himself; First Edition in French; 2 volumes in 1
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Beauties of English Poesy. William Griffin, London (1767). Poems selected by Goldsmith with short preface before each
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Good Naturd Man. W. Griffin, London (1768). a comedy. As performed at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden; Prologue by Dr. Johnson; 5 impressions of the first edition
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Roman History. S. Baker, London (1769). From the Foundation of the City of Rome To the Destruction of the Western Empire; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Deserted Village. W. Griffin, London (1770). Last 4 lines written by Samuel Johnson
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. Carnan and Newbery, London (1770). 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The History of England. T. Davis, London (1771). from the Earliest Times to Death of George II; First Edition (with misprinted headling on pp149 vol II); 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. She Stoops to Conquer. F. Newbery, London (1773). Or, The Mistakes of a Night. A Comedy; Prologue by David Garrick
Goldsmith, Oliver. She Stoops to Conquer. Messrs. Exshaw, Saunders, Sleater, Dublin (1773). Or, The Mistakes of a Night. A Comedy; First Dublin Edition
Goldsmith, Oliver. An History of the Earth and Animated Nature. J. Nourse, London (1774). 8 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Grecian history. J. and F. Rivington, London (1774). from the earliest date to the death of Alexander the Great; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. A Survey of Experimental Philosophy. T.Carnan and F.Newbery, London (1776). Considered in its Present State of Improvement; Illustrated with 24 engravings; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Haunch of Venison. G. Kearsly and J. Ridley, London (1776). A Poetical Epistle to Lord Clare; etchings by Bretherton
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of Earth and Animated Nature. J Nourse, London (1779). Second Edition; 105 engraved plates; 8 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The History of England. T. Becket, London (1779). From the Earliest Times to the Death of George II; Third Edition; 4 volumes
Johnston, Samuel. The World Displayed. James Williams, Dublin (1779). Smart, Christopher and Goldsmith, Oliver (compilers); or a Curious Collection of Voyages and Travels, selected from the Writers of all Nations in which the conjectures and interpolations of several vain Editors and Translators are expunged; 16 copper plates by J. Lodge; 20 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Poetical and Dramatic Works. H. Goldney, London (1780). First English collected Edition; With an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. John Mycall, Newbury-Port, Massachusetts (1780). American imprint; 2 volumes in 1
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. J. Davies et al, London (1781). 2 volumes in 1
Goldsmith, Oliver. An History of England. T. Carnan, London (1783). in a Series of Letters from a Nobleman to his Son; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. J. Lackington, London (1790). 101 copper plates; 8 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Miscellaneous Works. R Morison and Son, London (1791). Illustrated with copperplates; 7 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Poetical and Dramatical Works. H. Goldney, for Messieurs Rivington, London (1791). With an account of the life and writings of the author by M.B. Lowndes II; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Citizen of the World. Thomas Spencer, Albany (1794). or Letters from A Chinese Philosopher, Residing in London , to His Friends in the East
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. Gottfried Carl Nauck, Berlin (1794). Translated by J. Ebers; new preface by Benjamin Beresford; German text
Goldsmith, Oliver. An History of the Earth and Animated Nature. Mathew Carey, Philadelphia (1795). First American Edition; 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. Poems by Goldsmith and Parnell.. W. Bulmer, Shakespeare Printing Office, London (1795). and Parnell, Thomas. Illustrations by Thomas Bewick; 5 full page illustrations and text-illustrations; Poems include: The traveller, the hermit, and The Deserted Village; with lives of Goldsmith and Parnell
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Miscellaneous Works. I. Thomas and E.H. Waldo, Brookfield, Mass (1795). containing all his Essays and Poems
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. G.C. Nauk, Berlin (1797). New Preface by Benjamin Beresford; Text is accented throughout to indicate the stress of the words (for english pronunciation)
Goldsmith, Oliver. Poems By Goldsmith and Parnell. W. Bulmer and Co. at the Shakespeare Printing Office, London (1804). 11 engravings by Thomas Bewick; Includes life of Goldsmith and Thomas Parnell; Poems include The Traveller, The Deserted Village, and The Hermit
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith. William Durell and Company, New York (1809). To Which is Prefixed, Some Account of His Life and Writings; 6 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. Nuttall, Fisher and Dixon, Liverpool (1811). 4 volumes; Stereotype edition
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. J. Christie, Dublin (1812). 8 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. Miscellaneous Works. F. and D. Rivington, London (1820). plus An Account of his Life and Writings; 14 engraved plates; 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith. Printed for Suttaby, Evance and Co., by Turner and Hadley, London (1820). With remarks, attempting to ascertain, chiefly from local observation, the actual scene of The Deserted Village; and illustrative engravings, by Mr. Alken, from drawings taken on the spot. By the Rev. R.H. Newell; 6 plates by Samuel Alken
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith. Printed for Richardson and Co., London (1821). To Which is Prefixed Some Account of his Life and Writings; 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. T. Tegg III, London (1822). 19 fine black and white steel engravings by GF Schroeder and S. Davenport of fish, frogs, lizards, serpents, insects.
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth, an Animated Nature.. J. Grigg, Philadelphia (1830). Illustrated with 85 copperplates; 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. Rising Village and Other Poems. Published for the Author by John Mmilan (1834).
Goldsmith, Oliver. The works. Henry Washbourne and Fraser and Co., London (1837). of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B. with a life and notes; 4 volumes
GOLDSMITH Oliver. Le Vicaire de Wakefield. Bourgueleret, Paris. (1838). The Vicar of Wakefield; Translated by Charles Nodier; 10 plates by Nodier; English text with French translation
Goldsmith, Oliver. Histoire d'Angleterre continuee jusquen 1815. E. Houdaille, Paris (1840). The History of England until 1815; Translated by Alexandrine Aragaon; 4 volumes; illustrated
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Miscellaneous Works. Andrew Moffat, London (1841). of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B. With a Brief Memoir of the Author; Illustrated with wood engravings
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. John Van Voorst, London (1843). 32 illustrations by William Mulready
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith. Longman, Brown, Green, London (1846). Illustrated by wood engravings from the originals of: C.W. Cope; Thomas Creswick; J.C. Horsley; R. Redgrave; Frederick Tayler. Members of the Etching Club
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. A Fullarton, London (1847). With an Introductory View of the Animal Kingdom. Translated from the French of Baron Cuvier, And Copious Notes Embracing Accounts of New Discoveries in Natural History; A Life of the Author, by Washington Irving; and A Carefully Prepared Index to the Whole Work. Two Volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Works of Oliver Goldsmith. Henry Bohn, London (1848). With A Life and Notes; 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. A Fullarton and Co, London (1850). With an introductory view of the animal kingdom by Baron Cuvier; copious notes of discoveries in natural history; and a life of the author; by Washington Irving. 2 volumes.
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. Blackie and Son, London (1852). 71 full page plates; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. Fullarton and Co, London (1852). With a Life of the Author by Washington Irving; Introduction by Baron Cuvier; Illustrated with 71 plates; Includes notes explaining new discoveries; 2 volumes
Forster, John. The Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith. Bradbury and Evans, London (1854). Illustrated with 20 plates; Second Edition; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. H. C. Peck and Theo. Bliss, Philadelphia (1854). 8 illustrations by Devereux
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Works of Oliver Goldsmith. John Murray, London (1854). Edited by Peter Cunningham; 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Works of Oliver Goldsmith [with] The Life and Times. John Murray, London (1854). [with] The Life and Times; Peter Cunningham (editor); Biography from John Forster; 4 volume set of 'The Works' with 2 volumes of the biography of the author by John Forster; 6 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The works of Oliver Goldsmith with A Life and Notes. H.G. Bohn, London (1854). 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. A Fullarton and Co, London (1855). with an Introductory View of the Animal Kingdom by Baron Cuvier: Copious Notes of Discoveries in Natural History and a Life of the Author by Washington Irving Illustrated with 70 engravings; 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield.. John Van Voorst, London (1855). 32 illustrations by William Mulready
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Poems of Oliver Goldsmith. George Routledge and Co., London (1859). Illustrated with 40 woodblocks by Birket Foster; edited by R.A.Willmott
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. Lippencott, Philadelphia, PA (1860). Illustrated With 36 coloured plates, 35 uncoloured, 2 portraits and a frontispiece in each volume; 4 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. Blackie and Son, London (1862). 2 volumes; 71 plates; nearly 2000 images
Goldsmith, Oliver. A History of the Earth and Animated Nature. Blackie and Son, London (1864). With numerous notes from the works of the most distinguished British and foreign naturalists. Illustrated by upwards of two thousand figures; 2 volumes; 71 plates
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. Elliot Stock, London (1885). A facsimile of the first edition (1766); 2 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. John C. Nimmo, London (1886). prefatory memoir by George Saintsbury, 114 illustrations by V A Poirsons
Goldsmith, Oliver. She Stoops to Conquer. Harper and Brothers, New York (1887). a Comedy / by Dr. Goldsmith ; with Drawings by Edwin Abbey ; Decorations by Alfred Parsons ; Introduction by Austin Dobson:
Goldsmith, Oliver. She Stoops to Conquer. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, London (1887). a Comedy / by Dr. Goldsmith ; with Drawings by Edwin Abbey ; Decorations by Alfred Parsons; Introduction by Austin Dobson:
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Vicar of Wakefield. Macmillan and Co.London (1890). The Peacock Edition; Illustrated by Hugh Thomson; preface by Austin Dobson
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Works of Oliver Goldsmith. Harper and Brothers, New York (1900). Edited by Peter Cunningham; Introduction by Austin Dobson; Library Edition, The Wakefield Edition – limited to 500 numbered sets; illustrated; 12 volumes
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Deserted Village. The Book Lovers Guild, Germantown, Philadelphia (1901). Illuminated; Limited edition of 300 numbered copies signed by 'The Guild'
Goldsmith, Oliver. The Deserted Village. Harper and Brothers, New York (1902). A Poem Written by Oliver Goldsmith - Profusely Illustrated With Full-Page Drawings by Edwin A. Abbey R.A. Goldsmith, Oliver