Books

London: John Macrone. 1836. First edition, first printing of Charles Dickens' first book. First edition, first printing of Charles Dickens' first book. Three volumes. Finely and uniformly bound by Bayntun Riviere in full dark green morocco, gilt stamped portrait of Dickens to the upper board, the author's signature in facsimile stamped in gilt to the lower board. Five raised bands, gilt decorated compartments and titles in gilt to the spine. Gilt decorated board edges and inner dentelles. Marbled endpapers. All edges gilt. 'Sketches' is illustrated with 16 plates by George Cruikshank (complete), however plate 4 'London Recreations' called for opposite page 142 in volume I, has been misbound at page 142 in volume II. Tissue guards to the frontispiece of both volumes. 'Second Series' is illustrated with 20 plates by George Cruikshank (complete). Retaining the half-title, Publisher's adverts discarded. An attractive set, the bindings in fine…

Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People is Charles Dickens's first book, a collection of stories and essays that had been previously published in various periodicals.

Checking the name of the publisher, presence of illustrations by George Cruikshank, and the absence of 'Revised Edition' on the title page can indicate it's a first edition. It was published in two volumes.