American Notes for General Circulation by Dickens, Charles

New-York: Harper & Brothers, 1842. First edition ([4], 92, adverts), tall octavo in brown soft wraps with ‘Price One Shilling’ and black decoration on front cover. It seems there was something of a race to publish Notes for American readers, some of whom were offended by Dickens’ remarks on the persistence of slavery, the piratical practices of American publishers, and the sometimes grasping crudities of the American way. Dickens’ journey (22 January- 7 June 1842) began in New England and took him down to Richmond and on out to the west (Cincinnati and St. Louis). Of his experience he said, ‘This is not the republic I came to see; this is not the republic of my imagination.’ Dickens crossed into Canada at Niagara, travelling on to Toronto, Kingston, Montreal and Quebec and found the country almost wholly laudable. Inside the back cover is Harper’s advert for the forthcoming publication of Stephens’ Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, dated November 2, 1842, which is understood to have some bearing on the question which came first, this soft-cover Harper & Bros. publication or an edition in newspaper format, both of which were rushed to an eager public. Skilful restoration to the front cover, a few foxed pages. Very good.