OLIVER TWIST; or, The Parish Boy's Progress by DICKENS, Charles - 1839

New York City: Wm. H. Colyer. 1839. hb. 12mo, pp. 296. . Dicken's second novel, first published in London in book form, as a triple-decker, in November, 1838, by Richard Bentley, with the author described as "Boz". Its first appearance in print began in February, 1837, and then in monthly instalments thereafter, until concluding in April, 1839. The famous English artist and caricaturist, George Cruikshank, provided one illustration a month during the serialization. Our copy bears the owner's name (I. G. Dudley), the date (written as) Febry 1, 1839, and the price 50c, on the front free endpaper; indicating that this was a pirated American edition. (There was no copyright protection in America for foreign authors at this time.) It is bound in the original printer's boards - now quite dilapidated - with the remains of a printed paper spine label. It contains two Cruikshank illustrations; one as the frontispiece to the extra-illustrated title page, showing "Oliver asking for more" (which was also the frontispiece for the Bentley edition) and the second (as a title page illustration) shows "Oliver claimed by his affectionate friend". Both illustrations are signed by Cruikshank in the plate. The boards are detached (but present). Pages 115/116 are transposed with pages 113/114. Several signatures standing proud. Overall, in fair condition, at best, and priced as a place holder or re-binding copy. .