Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, 1842, second American edition, presentation copy inscribed to Morris

DICKENS, CHARLES

The Old Curiosity Shop and Other Tales. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1842

8vo (244 x 154mm.), second American edition, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR TO GEORGE MORRIS ("George Morris | from Charles Dickens | New York | First June 1842"), additional title-page for Master Humphrey's clock, double-column, engraved frontispiece, title (dated 1841) and 8 plates after George Cattermole, Hablot K. Browne and Thomas Sibson, numerous woodcut illustrations throughout text, original brown ribbed cloth, large foliate blocked in blind on covers, spine with title and design gilt, collector's green cloth chemise and morocco-backed slipcase, some off-setting, occasional minor spotting and browning, hinges starting, some wear to covers, rubbed

A PRESENTATION COPY OF "THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP" INSCRIBED DURING THE AUTHOR'S FIRST AMERICAN TOUR. George Pope Morris (1802-1864) was an American journalist, poet and founder of The New York Mirror. Usually known as “General Morris”, Dickens met him in his 1842 New York trip. He inscribed two presentation copies to him on 1 June that year: the present copy and a copy of Barnaby Rudge (see next lot). In a letter to Forster on 17 February, 1842 Dickens commented on a grand ball he attended the previous Monday when he and his wife were "waited upon" by Morris "in the full dress uniform of Heaven knows what regiment of militia" and personally escorted to the theatre-ballroom packed with three thousand people. (Pilgrim Edition of The Letters, III, 71)

REFERENCE:

Smith First American Editions p.166

PROVENANCE:

George P. Morris (1802-1864), presentation inscription from the author; Sotheby's, 24 November 1927, £156; [acquired by:] Comte Alain de Suzannet (purchase recorded by autograph addition to printed entry in his 1934 Lausanne catalogue), bookplate, the sale of his collection at Sotheby's, 22 November 1971, lot 59; Kenyon Starling, bookplate; William E. Self, bookplate, the sale of the family collection at Christie's New York, 4 February 2008, Lot 78