Sketches by Boz

London: Chapman and Hall, 1839. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Cruikshank, George. Octavo size, 534 pp. First one-volume edition, with 40 sketches by George Cruikshank. Originally published in two series/three volumes, "Chapman and Hall obtained the copyright of Sketches in 1837, they published all of them in twenty monthly parts from November 1837 through June 1839. Cruikshank designed a cover, enlarged the plates and created 13 new illustrations for these monthly parts. In May 1839, Chapman and Hall published these parts complete in one volume with all 40 of Cruikshank's illustrations" (Walter E. Smith, Charles Dickens in the Original Cloth), hence the "New Edition" referred to on the title page.

Half title page has the "Vote for Spruggins" illustration, full page drawing before title page has crowd waving to two gentlemen in a balloon, indicative of first "one volume" edition published.

___DESCRIPTION: Half navy leather over marbled boards, marbled endpapers and edges. Five raised bands on leather spine, compartments 1, 3, 4, and 5 with gilt decorations, compartment 2 red leather label with title in gilt, compartment 6 gilt device of the head of a double-horned animal. Armorial bookplate on front pastedown of Francis George Dyne (1823-1882/4), the binding is likely custom for the family library as the horned animal at the tail of the spine is mirrored on the left above the field of the coat of arms. All 40 illustrations present, but are heavily toned, not affecting the text. Volume has been rebound by Bolton, Knightsbridge per stamp on rear pastedown. Pagination: (i)-viii include the frontispiece, pictorial title page, standard title page, advertisement, and Table of Contents; (1)-526.

___CONDITION: Overall near fine, with a strong, square text block, solid hinges, straight corners with no rubbing, and other than the bookplate referred to above it is entirely free of prior owner markings. Boards are lightly rubbed, there is some toning to the illustration pages, minimal scattered foxing, and one very small one-quarter inch tear to top of pg. 157.

___CITATION: Podeschi A7. First issue point present on page 526 of "reeledbefore" without space between, title page shows publisher's name and address of 186 Strand.

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