Books

London: Chapman and Hall,, 1844. Publisher's deluxe binding First edition in book form, in the publisher's full morocco binding, the most deluxe of the three original binding options offered by the publisher, and very scarce. Martin Chuzzlewit was initially issued in monthly parts from December 1842 to July 1844, and in book form on completion. In an advertisement in the final monthly part, the publishers announced that it could be purchased in three formats: in cloth for £1 1s., in half morocco with marbled edges for £1 4s. 6d., and in full morocco with gilt edges for £1 6s. 6d. This full morocco binding is much scarcer than copies in the original cloth, which are themselves by no means common. This is the first copy of this novel in the full morocco binding that we have handled. The early owner of this copy, Howell Blood, whose signature, dated 1862, appears on a preliminary blank, was typical of the customer Chapman and Hall was targeting with their offer of deluxe, full…