Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, first book edition, publisher's finely bound copy

DICKENS, CHARLES

The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. London: Chapman and Hall, 1844

8vo (215 x 134mm.), FIRST BOOK EDITION, engraved frontispiece, extra engraved title and 38 other illustrations by H.K. Browne ("Phiz"), vignette title (signed "Phiz fecit", with reversed "100£" on signpost and seven studs in the trunk (Smith's state 1, no priority), 14-line errata on p.xv as usual (Smith's second setting), THE PUBLISHER'S OWN COPY, FINELY BOUND FOR HIM BY HAYDAY IN PEBBLED BURGUNDY MOROCCO (with Chapman and Hall stamp on front endpaper), covers ornately gilt with gilt fillets enclosing inner panels with various floral, pointillé and other recurring tools, spine in six compartments ornately gilt, plain endpapers, all edges gilt, inner dentelles, some oxidisation and spotting to plates as usual, a touch of edge-wear to binding

THE PRESENTATION COPY OF "CHUZZLEWIT" FOR HIS PUBLISHER.

By the time Martin Chuzzlewit was published on 16 July 1844 Dickens had moved his entire family and household to Genoa, and as result he did not inscribe presentation copies of this title at the time of publication (even the dedicatee Angela Bourdett-Coutts' copy, similarly bound for presentation by Hayday, was not inscribed by the author).

REFERENCE:

Smith I:7

PROVENANCE:

Edward Chapman (1804-1880), Dickens' publisher, bound for him by Hayday, his bookplate on upper paste-down