First edition, first printing. Publisher's original cream boards, lettered and illustrated in blue and green. A very good copy with some wear and rubbing to the boards, some exposure to corners and spine ends; internally, some light scattered foxing. Scarce. The History of Samuel Titmarsh and the Great Hoggarty Diamond follows a man whose magical diamond allows him access to wealthy and powerful people through encounters that only the rich can experience. The moral explains that a good wife is the most valuable treasure a man can possess. Written in 1841, the story's somber tone reflects the personal tragedy that plagued William Thackeray's life during its writing. Thackeray's wife Isabella experienced severe postpartum depression after the birth of their third child in 1840. Isabella attempted suicide while he was working away from home; she survived the attempt but never recovered emotionally.