Books

First edition in book form, first issue, with "Boz" title pages and the "Fireside" plate, in original cloth. Oliver Twist was first published serially between February 1837 and April 1839 in Bentley's Miscellany, and in the present three-volume book by Richard Bentley in 1838 (six months before the initial serialization was complete). The novel remains one of the best-known of all works of English fiction. "Oliver Twist was originally conceived as a satire on the new poor law of 1834 which herded the destitute and the helpless into harshly run union workhouses, and which was perceived by Dickens as a monstrously unjust and inhumane piece of legislation (he was still fiercely attacking it in Our Mutual Friend in 1865). Once the scene shifted to London, however, Oliver Twist developed into a unique and compelling blend of a 'realistic' tale about thieves and prostitutes and a melodrama with strong metaphysical overtones. The pathos of little Oliver (the first of many such child figures in Dickens), the farcical comedy of the Bumbles, the sinister fascination of Fagin, the horror of Nancy's murder, and the powerful evocation of London's dark and labyrinthine criminal underworld, all helped to drive Dickens's popularity to new heights" (ODNB). 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. This copy is in the horizontally ribbed cloth binding with an arabesque design measuring 135 x 70 mm. This is recorded by Smith as a binding variant (contrasting with a "fine-diaper cloth" and an arabesque design measuring 133 x 68 mm). Both bindings lack the publisher's imprint at the foot of the spine, as here. Eckel and Carter each regard the lack of the publisher's imprint as suggestive of early issue, and there is no known priority between the two bindings. The ownership inscriptions and bookplates identify this set from the Stucley family. Colonel Sir George Stucley (1812-1900), known as George Buck, the Conservative MP, married Lady Elizabeth O'Bryan, 4th daughter and co-heiress of William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond, in 1835. Their eldest son, Lt.-Col. Sir William Lewis Stucley, 2nd Baronet (1836–1911) died without issue. Provenance: Elizabeth Rebecca Trotter (1775–1852), signature on the front free endpapers of vols. I and II as "The Marchioness of Thomond"); Lt. Colonel Stucley (1836-1911), armorial bookplate on front pastedowns. Three volumes, octavo. Original reddish brown horizontally ribbed cloth, spines lettered in gilt, covers with arabesque design in blind, yellow endpapers, edges untrimmed. Housed in a custom brown morocco-backed folding box. Complete with 24 etched plates by George Cruikshank including the "Fireside" plate (facing p. 313 in vol. III), half-titles to vols. I and II as issued, publisher's advertisements at end of vol. I and beginning of vol. III. Ownership signatures to two volumes, armorial bookplates to all volumes. Spines a little sunned and slightly skewed, some light soiling, extremities a little worn, occasional minor splitting to joints, some foxing and browning, several plates with imprints cropped or shaved as usual, small abrasion to title page of vol. III: a very good set. Eckel, pp. 59-62; Smith I, pp. 30-7.

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.