[Dickens], Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi,1838, first edition

[DICKENS, CHARLES]

Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi. Edited by "Boz.". London: Richard Bentley, 1838

12mo (201 x 125mm.), 2 volumes, FIRST EDITION, engraved frontispiece portrait after J. Raven in volume 1, and 12 etched plates by and after George Cruikshank (including frontispiece in volume 2, first issue without border to final plate ("The Last Song"), 36pp. publisher's advertisements at the end of volume 1, original pink floral embossed cloth (Carter's 'A' Binding), spines decorated and lettered in gilt, cream endpapers, ownership signature on upper paste-downs, quarter morocco cloth cases and matching slipcases, some minor spotting to text and plates, some slight staining to covers, some edge-wear BUT STILL AN EXCEPTIONAL COPY

A lovely copy in cloth of the great actor and clown Joey Grimaldi's Memoirs, originally edited by Thomas Egerton Wilks, who sold it to the publisher Bentley before Dickens agreed to re-edit it for publication, adding his own introductory and concluding chapers (Dickens had to fit the work in between finishing The Pickwick Papers in October 1837 and starting Nicholas Nickleby in the new year). The novelist had vivid memories of seeing Grimaldi perform as a child aged 7 and 8 in 1819 and 1820 during the London pantomine season (see Tomalin, p.12). The edition is particularly noteworthy for the very fine illustrations by Cruickshank.

There were also copies in black/dark green/ dark brown cloth (Carter's 'B' binding) and copies in purplish-brown cloth (Carter's 'C' binding; see next lot).

REFERENCE:

Eckel pp.140-142

PROVENANCE:

Michael Scott, bookplates