Description
First edition, first issue of The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens, published in 1844.
Octavo, xiv, 624pp. Blue morocco binding, portrait of Dickens in gilt on front cover. Five raised bands, title in gilt on spine with decorative compartments. All edges gilt, with gilt turn-ins. Marbled endpapers. Finely bound by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath, England, with bindery imprint on front endpaper. Solid text block, nearly fine with a few small scratches to gilt edges. A touch of foxing to plates. Complete with 38 full-page illustrated plates, with a frontispiece and vignette title.
This is the first completed issue, with the vignette title showing a “100 £” reward sign affixed to the post. Includes first issue errors, such as single quotes on page 163, no dot on the i in “time” on page 311, and “thresh-hold” on page 587.
(Eckel 66) (Smith 7) (Hatton and Cleaver 185-212)
The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit was originally published as a 20-part monthly serial from January, 1843 through July, 1844.
