Charles Dickens | Sketches by Boz... the second series, London, 1837, original cloth, half morocco slipcase

Charles Dickens

Sketches by Boz: Illustrative of Every-Day Life, and Every-Day People. The second series. Complete in one volume. London: John Macrone, 1837

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE (list of illustrations does not appear on p. viii, plate "Vauxhall Gardens by Day" not repeated at p. 216, appearing only as frontispiece), 8vo, ten plates by Cruikshank, including frontispiece and etched title (dated 1836), plates bearing imprint of "John Macrone, 1836", publisher's advertisements at end, original orange cloth, spine lettered in gilt, leaves uncut, in half levant morocco slipcase, inner cloth wrapper, spine somewhat faded, upper joint starting to split

Charles Dickens' first published book proved popular with four issues of the First Series swiftly printed, however Dickens' share of the profits was only £400, with the publisher Macrone receiving ten times as much. With the publication of Pickwick Papers proving a great success and Oliver Twist starting to appear in Bentley's Miscellany, Dickens realised he could do better with an alternative publisher. Backed by Chapman & Hall he negotiated outright purchase of the copyright of Sketches by "Boz" leading to its subsequent publication in parts in 1837.     

LITERATURE

Smith I: 2, Eckel, p. 13; Sadleir I, 700

PROVENANCE

George Barr McCutcheon: bookplate; American Art Association, First Editions of the Renowned Collection of George Barr McCutcheon Sale, 21 April 2916, lot 28