Books

London: John Macrone, 1836. First edition. First edition. viii, 348; [iv], 342 pp. with all 16 illustrated plates by Cruikshank. Two volumes bound in publisher's green leaf-patterned morocco cloth, spine lettered in gilt, pale yellow coated endpapers. Near Fine, unsophisticated copies with contemporary gift inscriptions on paste downs alongside armorial bookplates and tiny bookplates, discrete number stamps to copyright pages with withdrawal stamps from G.M.A. Library. Some foxing to contents, darkening to plates, and occasional corner creasing. Slight lean to first volume. Lovely grain of cloth with hardly any rubbing (truly superior in this respect) and gilt lettering still quite distinct despite the years. Housed in a custom slipcase. The famous Victorian novelist's very first book, largely comprised of humorous short pieces that had been printed in magazines the past three years. "A Visit to Newgate," "The Black Veil," and "The Great Winglebury Duel," are published here…

Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People is Charles Dickens's first book, a collection of stories and essays that had been previously published in various periodicals.

Checking the name of the publisher, presence of illustrations by George Cruikshank, and the absence of 'Revised Edition' on the title page can indicate it's a first edition. It was published in two volumes.