The first Baron Tauchnitz, Christian Bernhard (1816-1895) began this publishing firm, providing English-language editions to Continental European readers. What was innovative was that his editions were produced with the legal consent of authors and publishers in England and the Americas. With copyright secured, he was able to produce books of a much higher quality than the cheaply produced black -market versions that were his only competition. The paper wrapper were designed so that readers could have them bound to their own preference later. This set of Thackeray's Virginians would have been sold separately and in paper wrappers but a previous owner had them bound into two volumes. While in need of some repair, the book remains in good reading condition.