The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit [First Edition in fine binding] by Dickens, Charles - 1844

London: Chapman & Hall. 1844. First edition, second issue (with ten corrections to 14 line errata page), octavo, pp.xiv, (ii, blank), 624, b&w engraved fronts, vignette title leaf and thirty-eight plates full page steel engravings by Phiz (H.K. Browne), 'Bradbury and Evans, Printers' verso t.p., prev owner's inscr on half-title verso 'A. Jackson, Bramhope', contemporary inscr in pencil "altogether overdrawn" above plate 24, light foxing to plates, slightly heavier on fronts. and t.p., generally clean, finely rebound in full green morocco leather by Cottage Bindery, gilt borders, blind-tooling along edges and inner dentelles, raised bands and elaborately gilt decorated spine, marbled eps, top edge gilt. A handsomely bound copy in slip-case. Dickens published Martin Chuzzlewit in 1842, two years after his visit to America. This copy with the £100 on the reward notice of title plate, not transposed. The transposed plate is often referred to as a first issue point, though Hatton and Cleaver contend that there is no priority and that both plates were used in the monthly parts which precede the book edition and state that "It is merely one of the five cases in Chuzzlewit of triplicated steels, one of them reading '100'£ and the other two '£100', all three of them in use during the issue in parts." Hablot Knight Browne (1815-1882) was an English artist and illustrator, well-known by his pen name 'Phiz'. 1st Edition, second issue. Full morroco.