Books

Second American edition in book form, following the first by just five days, comprising the parts of the original serial issue gathered and issued in book form; this copy is in the secondary binding of wrappers, constructed from the covering of one of the parts. The novel was first published in the US by Harper in seven serial parts, each with two plates, issued irregularly between March 1843 and July 1844. Following the issue of the final part on 22 July 1844, the sheets of the parts and the plates were issued collectively bound in cloth as a book-form edition on 25 July. However the publishers were pipped to the post by J. Winchester of New York, who published an edition on 20 July without illustrations. Following their issue in cloth, Harper subsequently issued further sheets and plates from the parts in this wrapper format, a "makeshift" binding in which the wrapper of part 7 was re-used with the part number and price removed. These "makeshift" bindings come in various forms, and likely reflect the limited success of the edition and the publishers attempt to shift stock. This limited success was in part due to the competition with the Winchester edition, which was a quarter of the price. Moreover the novel was not successful in America, due to the critical comments on the country in the early chapters, and because on Dickens's recent visit he was seen as ungracious to his hosts. Octavo. Original green wrappers printed in black. Housed in custom black cloth solander box. With 14 plates after Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz), engraved by G. W. Casilean. Recent bookplate of collector Peter Russell mounted to inside cover of box. A little worn, sporadic light foxing. A very good copy. Gimbel A74; Smith, American Editions, pp. 199-206.