Charles Dickens | Hard Times, 1854, first American edition bound in cloth

Charles Dickens

Hard Times. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1854

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION BOUND IN CLOTH, 8vo (187 x 116mm.), original blind-stamped dark blue ribbed cloth, spine decorated and lettered in gilt, endpapers browned, edges covers and spine slightly darkened, corners rubbed, lacking front free endpaper

The publication history of Hard Times in America is fascinating. It was first serialised in Household Words between May to September 1854. A young publisher McElrath had previously negotiated with Dickens to acquire the advance sheets by paying $1500, a price that Harper would not agree to. The advantage of paying such a huge price was that McElrath obtained the advance sheets for the last few chapters prior to their publication in London. He proceeded to then print the whole book and issued it bound in light tan wrappers, assuming he would sell all these copies before Harper could print, thus recoup his initial outlay. However, Harper had meanwhile kept pace and printed each chapter as it appeared. The moment McElrath's copy appeared they used it to print their own version and immediately issued it overnight bound in cloth at cost price, half the price of McElrath's, destroying the young publisher in one go. 

LITERATURE:

First American Editions of Charles Dickens. The Calinescu Collection, Part II. Sumner & Stillman, pp. 9-11.