Books

First US edition of the second series of Sketches by Boz, the exceptional Self-Starling copy. Dickens's Sketches was published in two series, together comprising his first book, republishing short stories which had previously appeared in periodicals with new additions. The Sketches cemented his growing reputation, soon to be catapulted to stardom with the publication of The Pickwick Papers. The first series was published in Britain in 1836, and the second series in 1837. The American publishers Carey, Lea & Blanchard published the first series in 1836 under the title Watkins Tottle, and Other Sketches. Their publication of this second series used the Sketches by Boz title. It was published in March 1837 in an edition of 1,250 copies, following the British edition of a few months earlier. Kenyon Starling and William Self were two of the great Dickens collectors of the late 20th and early 21st century, the former bequeathing his collection to the latter. The combined collection was sold at Christie's 2008, and was one of the most significant Dickens collections to be sold this century, highly esteemed for the remarkable condition of the books, and the presence of numerous rarities. Octavo. Original pink quarter cloth, printed paper label, grey paper-covered sides. Housed in a 20th-century brown quarter morocco slipcase and brown cloth chemise. 20th-century book labels to front pastedown of George Abbot James, Kenyon Starling, and William Self; recent bookplate of Peter Russell to chemise. Spine very lightly sunned with label rubbed, contents a little foxed as always. Gimbel A9; Smith, Dickens First American Editions, pp. 5-6. John C. Eckel, Bibliography of Charles Dickens, 1932.

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.