Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty by DICKENS, Charles (1812-1870)

London: Chapman and Hall, [1841]. FIRST SEPARATE EDITION, bound with unaltered stereotype sheets from the original triple-decker; an unrecorded variant. Octavo (26 x 17cm). With textual engravings by George Cattermole and Hablot K. Brown ('Phiz'). Smith's later issue with Piccadilly address shown on an undated title page. In our copy the imprint is BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS, whereas Smith records BRADBURY, EVANS AND CO, PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. He also notes that Chapter 35 was spelled correctly, whereas the present copy retains the error THIRTY-FIFTTH. Smith does concede the number of other one-volume issues from the stereos is uncertain. Recent half brown calf to style, old edge marbling from original/previous binding. Internally very clean, exterior unmarked. A fine copy. Dickens first effort at historical fiction, set during London's non-Popery 'Gordon' Riots (Protestant rallying against the Roman Catholic Relief Act, 1778). Walter E. Smith, 6B -see note 4.