Books

Chapman and Hall, 1859. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. London Chapman and Hall, 1859. Beautiful First edition, First Issue in the Original Red Cloth DICKENS, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. With Illustrations by H.K. Browne. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859. First edition, first issue in the primary binding. Octavo 8 3/4 x 5 9/16 inches; 222 x 141 mm. [i-vii] viii [ix-x], [1] 2-254; Sixteen inserted plates, including frontispiece and vignette title, by Browne ['Phiz']. All eight of Smith's internal flaws necessary for the first issue present, including page 213 misnumbered 113. Publishers primary binding of deep red sand-grain cloth, covers stamped in blind, spine lettered in gilt. Edges uncut. Cloth on boards is still a rich red. Housed in a full leather decorated red morocco clamshell case. An excellent copy. A Tale of Two Cities was first serialized in Dickenss periodical All the Year Round, from April 30-November 26, 1859. Its appearance in monthly parts (July-December 1859)…

A Tale of Two Cities is a historical novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie, whom he had never met. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror.

First editions of 'A Tale of Two Cities' can be identified by the presence of the publisher's name, Chapman & Hall, on the title page. Additionally, the phrase 'All the Year Round' on the title page indicates that it might be a first edition as the book was serialized there alongside its initial publication in book form.