Books

First US edition in book form of both works. Both were first published together in Britain as Master Humphrey's Clock. They have been gathered here by a collector in the same spirit, the custom-made box reading "Master Humphrey's Clock: 1st US edition". Master Humphrey's Clock was first published in Britain in both weekly and monthly parts from April 1840 to December 1841. In the US, Lea & Blanchard also published it in monthly parts under the same title. The Old Curiosity Shop half of the duo was issued from April 1840 to March 1841, and on its completion they published it in the present format, a separate book form volume on 9 March 1841. This copy is from the collection of the bibliographer Walter Smith, and is illustrated in his bibliography (pp. 156-160). Smith identifies numerous variants of the edition, and describes the features of this copy specifically (calling it a "further variation" on p. 163), without priority of issue. Barnaby Rudge was issued from March to December 1841. On completion it was published in the present separate book-form volume on 20 December 1841, with the title post-dated 1842. It was published simultaneously in cloth and in boards. Two works, octavo. Original cloth, spines lettered with vignette in gilt. Housed together in brown cloth box. Illustrated throughout. Recent bookplate of collector Peter Russell mounted to inside cover of box; contemporary bookplate of Frederick William Barry to front pastedown of Barnaby Rudge. Very minor sunning and rubbing to cloth, contents a little spotted. Very good copies. Walter Smith, First American Editions, pp. 159-164 & 184-6.

The Old Curiosity Shop is one of two novels (the other being Barnaby Rudge) which Charles Dickens published along with short stories in his weekly serial Master Humphrey's Clock, from 1840 to 1841. It tells the story of Nell Trent, a beautiful and virtuous young girl of 'not quite fourteen,' who lives with her grandfather in his shop of curiosities.