Books

First edition in book form, first issue, with "Boz" title pages and the "Fireside" plate. Oliver Twist was serialized between February 1837 and April 1839 in Bentley's Miscellany. To meet demand, Bentley rushed out this three-volume edition in late 1838. Bentley rushed Oliver Twist out in book form before serialization was complete, forcing Cruikshank to hurry the last illustrations. Dickens disliked the final "Fireside" plate and asked Cruikshank for a new design, the "Church" plate. He also decided that he no longer wished to be styled "Boz". The first issue, as here, was published on 9 November; the second, with cancel titles, omitting the subtitle and giving Dickens's name as the author, and with the "Church" plate at the end, was issued on 16 November. Provenance: John Greaves with his bookplate illustrated with a scene from Bleak House on an initial blank in each volume. Greaves was the Honorary Secretary of the Dickens Fellowship from 1948 to 1976, and author of several studies on Dickens, including Who's Who in Dickens (1973) and Dickens at Doughty Street (1975). Three vols, octavo (201 x 123 mm). Twentieth-century calf, rebacked, smooth spines divided by gilt fillets, red and black morocco labels, covers bordered with twin fillets, floral tools at corners, turn-ins richly gilt, marbled endpapers, edges untrimmed. With the original cloth covers bound in each volume. With 24 etched plates by George Cruikshank including the "Fireside" plate (facing p. 313 in vol. III), all with tissue guards, half-titles to vols I and II as issued, publisher's advertisements at front of vol. III, vol. I bound without advertisements. Extremities skilfully retouched, touch of wear to corners, minor marks and scuffs to covers, inner hinges cracked, but firm, short closed tear at head of front free endpaper in vol. I and III, occasional foxing to contents, plates lightly oxidised as often. A very good set. Eckel, pp. 51-6; Gimbel A27.

Oliver Twist; or, the Parish Boy's Progress is Charles Dickens's second novel, and was first published as a serial from 1837 to 1839. The story centers on orphan Oliver Twist, born in a workhouse and sold into apprenticeship with an undertaker. After escaping, Oliver travels to London, where he meets the 'Artful Dodger', a member of a gang of juvenile pickpockets led by the elderly criminal Fagin.