DICKENS, Charles (1812-1870)

Sketches by Boz : illustrative of every-day life, and every-day people [Original Cloth]

London: Chapman & Hall [from 1837], 1863. First Edition thus. Decorative Cloth. Later printing, in original cloth, of the so-called First Collected Edition (the first issue of series one and series two appeared in three volumes) of Dickens's first book, introducing a introducing a major literary talent to Victorian England. Demy 8vo (220 x 135mm): viii,526pp, with 40 steel-engraved plates by George Cruikshank. Publisher's olive-green fine-diaper cloth, Smith’s secondary binding style with chain design in blind within triple-ruled borders in blind to covers; spine in five blind-paneled compartments, the second and fourth lettered in gilt; pale yellow coated end papers. A beautifully preserved example in bright original cloth (spine, as inevitably, faded to pleasing brown), plates and pages generally clean and bright with only sporadic foxing. Fine. Item #BB1787

In February, 1836, John Macrone published Sketches by Boz, illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People, which came to be known as the “first series." The “second series” appeared in December. When Chapman & Hall obtained copyright of Sketches from Macrone, in 1837, Cruikshank enlarged the plates (save "The Free and Easy," which was discarded) and created thirteen more illustrations. In May, 1839, Chapman & Hall published this "New Edition, Complete," combining both series one and two with all forty of Cruikshank's illustrations. A publisher's note preceding the contents pages informs the reader: "The followings pages contain the earliest productions of their Author . . . Several editions having been exhausted, both [series] are now published together in one volume, uniform with the 'Pickwick Papers' and 'Nicholas Nickleby.'" N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, with dust jackets carefully preserved in archival, removable polypropylene sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).

Price: $274.00