Forster, John.

8vo, 3 volumes extended to 9 using the sheets of the first English edition (apart from volume 1, which is the third English edition), extra-illustrated with over 1,000 engravings and other items (including portraits, views, buildings, illustrations of characters and events in Dickens' novels by Kyd, Cruickshank and others, photogravures, advertisement and leaves from the parts-issues of the novels, facsimile letters etc), letters by Dickens, his illustrator Hablot K. Browne, and Forster tipped-in or loosely inserted, title pages and preliminaries of English edition bound in, pink endpapers, crushed red morocco gilt by C. Walters, top edges gilt, some slight browning to text or plates, hinges and joints repaired, very minor wear to some edges and corners of binding, letters slightly soiled or creased at folds

apparently sold by the New York booksellers Dauber & Pine, 20 March 1930, pencil note on rear endpaper of volume 1

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A fine extra-illustrated edition of Forster's "Life of Dickens", including letters by Dickens, Hablot K. Browne and Forster.

The note and letter by Dickens are tipped-in to volume 1. The note (1 page, 8vo, 15 February 1860), written on the headed notepaper of All the Year Round, is to a Mr W. Glascock rejecting a manuscript for publication. The letter signed (Fulham Hotel, 2 pages, 8vo, 14 March, no year), is to Joseph Neilson, explaining that he cannot say "just now whether I am or am not likely to be in your village before I leave America..."). The letter by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"), discussing work on the Sabbath, is tipped-in next to p.404 in volume 6 (2 Park Terrace, Sussex Road, 3 pages, 8vo, undated) and incorporates a sketch of a demonic figure gesturing towards an artist surrounded by the contents of his studio. The letter by Forster (1 page, 8vo, 19 March 1861), loosely inserted in the first volume, is to his friend Panizzi, inviting him to dinner the following Monday.

We have not been able to find any record of this publisher or this edition in the online catalogues of the British Library or the Library of Congress. It may well be that this set was a one-off using specially printed title pages, and incorporating extra engraved material.

Also included in this lot are two copies of R.W. Buss's proposed plate for "The Breakdown" (from Part 4 of The Pickwick Papers), which the illustrator completed before his sudden dismissal by the publishers. As is well known, Buss had been brought in to replace the original illustrator Robert Seymour (who had committed suicide), before being replaced himself by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz"). Early issues of Pickwick sometimes include two other suppressed Buss plates, "The Cricket Match", and "The Arbour Scene".