Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress. By "Boz" by DICKENS, Charles - 1838

London: Richard Bentley, 1838. First Edition. Hardcover. Attractive, unrestored copy of this Dickens masterwork, noted by Self as "the first English novel to feature a young child as protagonist." Begun as a serial in Bentley's Miscellany, the book was issued prior to the story's completion in the magazine. Later issues replace "Boz" with "Charles Dickens" on title page and replace the "Fireside" illustration, which Dickens disliked, with a graveside scene. Three octavo volumes. First issue, with "Boz" on title page of all three volumes and "Fireside" plate at p.312 of volume III. 4pp. of publisher's ads at end of volume I. Half-titles present in volumes I & II; lacking in volume 3, where the advertising leaf appears in lieu of half-title. Volume I includes the leaf of instructions for placement of plates (often lacking). 24 inserted leaves of plates by George Cruikshank. Publisher's deep brown cloth, faded to tan on spines; cream yellow endpapers; page edges untrimmed; brief (1/8") mended tear to cloth at crown of volume I; volumes I & III faded at upper extremities of boards; still a clean, complete, and entirely unsophisticated set, texts unmarked with scattered faint foxing; Very Good.