Books

Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Blanchard, 1839. First American Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. Octavo, 2 Volumes. In Good minus condition. Tan cloth spines with dark brown publisher's papers and black lettering. Boards are quarter-bound in publisher's tan cloth, have moderate soiling along the cloth, moderate shelving wear, moderate wear along the extremities, moderate chipping along the extremities, moderate denting along the fore corners, tearing along the spine head and tail edges and along the spine of Volume 2, and stains throughout. Textblocks have heavy soiling throughout, mild wear along the edges, moderate age-toning throughout, and stains along the edges. Textblock of Volume 1 has splitting along the hinges between the end-pages and pastedowns, is water-damaged throughout above the tail edges, moderate soiling on the end-pages and pastedowns, and an ink inscription bleeding through the front end-page. Textblock of Volume 2 has splitting to gutter between p[ages 55-96 and…

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.

First editions of 'Oliver Twist' can be identified by their three volumes published by Richard Bentley in 1838, featuring 24 steel-engraved plates by George Cruikshank and no mention of the author’s name on the title page. Subsequent editions after Dickens’s death may also include his name as the author.