London: Chapman and Hall, 1837. First Edition (later issue).
Leather. 609p w/plates.
A hardcover book bound in 19th-century 3/4
black leather with marbled boards and endpapers. The spine has been
inconspicuously rebacked with matching leather, retaining the majority
of the original gilt-decorated backstrip (though there is a chip out of
the middle, filled in with the newer leather). Edges and surfaces of
cover lightly rubbed. Early owner's small signature on first blank leaf.
The last page of text, once torn, has been delicately repaired. The
plates show general discoloration, most heavily at the top and bottom
edges; some are later issues with "Chapman & Hall" printed on them.
Otherwise, the text is unmarked and the binding tight. A sturdy,
handsome copy of Dickens' first novel in very good condition. Item
#186317
This is a later issue of
the first edition, without the suppressed Robert Seymour plates
(however, the title page credits the illustrations to "R. Seymour and
Phiz"). Some plates state they are printed by Chapman and Hall while
others have no printer identified.