OLIVER TWIST by DICKENS, CHARLES - 1838

First Edition - first or (or early) printing of "Second Edition" in 3 volumes in custom made linen covered slip case. The Second edition is a mixed printing of the First printing. Per Smith: (page 36): "Second edition 1839 ( early editions have 1838). The titlepage has the same setting of type as the Charles Dickens issue, with the word "Second edition" added : AUTHOR OF "The Pickwick Papers", printed beneath Dicken's name: and 9 "9" substituted for "8" in the date of the later copies. Volume II reset, other volumes printed from standing type or resetting of some signature. Published December 17, 1838."
Volume I contains: half title, advert. for "New Works by Boz" - Barnaby Jones", frontpiece by Cruilshank, Titlepage dated 1838, Imprint - Samuel Bentley, pages (!)-331. Includes 4 of Smith's Internal Flaws from the first issue and all Cruikshank's illustrations.
Volume II contains: half title, frontpiece by Cruilshank, titlepage dated 1838, imprint - Whiting, Beaufort House, pages (1) -307. Includes 5 of Smith's Internal Flaws, all 7 Cruikshank engravings. Because this volume was reset, most of the Internal Flaws have been corrected.
Volume III contains: half title, frontpiece by Cruikshank, titlepage dated 1838, Imprint - Whiting, Beaufort House, pages (1)-315. Includes 9 of Smith's Internal Flaws in the first signatures, balance corrected. Has all 7 Cruikshank's engravings.
Condition:Very good. In period brown half leather with brown vertically ribbed cloth. Minor board spotting. Spine in ornate gilded 6 sections with title in 2nd and Vol. in 4th. Missing lower section on Volume I was rebacked with new leather and end papers. Each volume includes the book plate of "Charles Gilmore Emlyn" (Sp?). Text remarkedly clean and white. Illustrations were professional cleaned of foxing and toning.making for a very collectible copy. 7.5x 4.75.