OUR MUTUAL FRIEND by DICKENS, CHARLES - 1865

Hurst and Blackett. London. 1856 . FIRST EDITION. Three volumes. 8vo. (7.8 x 5.2 inches). Integral publishers advert leaves at the end of each volume (iii, i, ii) but bound without the publishers catalogue in volume one. Some minor foxing to a few pages but generally a very good clean copy finely re-bound by Bayntun of Bath. Half brown morocco. Spines with raised bands, each with gilt decoration. Compartments double ruled, lettered and decorated in gilt. Tan cloth on boards Marbled endpapers. Top edges gilt. A lovely copy in a fine quality, highly attractive leather binding. Loosely inserted is a 4pp hand written letter from the author (" Your affectionate Dinah") to "My Dear Alice" ( her God Daughter, the subject of the poem "My Godchild Alice"), closely written in black ink on four sides of folded leaf, each side measuring 4.5 x 3.5 inches. The letter is undated but circa 1859 and discusses, among other things, the publisher Alexander Macmillan's approval of Clarence Dobell's illustrations for her… Read More

Italia: n.p., 1835. Very Good. 19 cm; 20 pages (three blank), including 7 full-page illustrations with captions. Text and illustrations lithographed throughout. Bound in (later?) plain wraps. Not in Melzi. No copies located. Apparently unrecorded booklet with text and illustrations produced completely in lithograph. The text reproduces an italic calligraphy that must have been lettered in reverse on stone, or written out on transfer paper before being applied to the lithographic stone. The narrative concerns a lady who is handily juggling simultaneous affairs with a young man and with the young man's father.

London: Henry Colburn, 1829. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. First edition, octavo, three volumes; 315, 319, 356pp. In contemporary half leather over marbled boards (a little worn), four raised spine bands, gilt lettered red morocco title labels to second compartments, remaining compartments richly gilt. Spotting and staining to early and closing leaves of each volume, author's name inscribed to title page, first quire of vol.1 misbound, otherwise a very good clean copy. Attractive copy of St.Leger's increasingly uncommon final novel, the last before his untimely death at the age of thirty following an epileptic seizure.

London: Henry Colburn, 1826. 1st Edition . Half leather. Very Good. First edition, octavo, three volumes; 310, 350, 326pp. In contemporary red straight-grain half morocco over marbled boards (very lightly worn, spines faded), four raised spine bands between double gilt fillets, gilt titles and volume numbers to second and fourth compartments respectively. Early heraldic ownership label to front pastedowns and ink ownership name to title-pages, without half-titles, unobtrusive very light foxing to opening and closing leaves of each volume. A very attractive copy of this historical novel by Shelley's friend and financial advisor, Horace Smith, poet, novelist and stockbroker. Sadleir 328-9.

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1886 First edition, first issue. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1886. With 26 illustrations (12 of these are full-page) by Reginald Birch and 14 pages advertisements for 'Scribner's Books for the Young'.

First Edition issue points are existing: with DeVinne Press imprint on page 210, signature mark "12" on page 177 and "14" on page 209.

Book is in a good to very good condition regarding its age with no dustjacket as published. The boards and the spine are rubbed, bumped and show signs of use and shelf wear (see photos). Dedication to former owner on front free endpaper. Book has a crack to the rear inside hinge but the connections between text block and boards are still intact. Slightly spotting and miniscule closed tears to some of the pages. Dusting to the edges of the text block.

In 1886, Frances Hodgson Burnett published Little Lord Fauntleroy, her first children's book, which was enthusiastically received by… Read More

Hurst and Blackett. London. 1856 . FIRST EDITION. Three volumes. 8vo. (7.8 x 5.2 inches). Integral publishers advert leaves at the end of each volume (iii, i, ii) but bound without the publishers catalogue in volume one. Some minor foxing to a few pages but generally a very good clean copy finely re-bound by Bayntun of Bath. Half brown morocco. Spines with raised bands, each with gilt decoration. Compartments double ruled, lettered and decorated in gilt. Tan cloth on boards Marbled endpapers. Top edges gilt. A lovely copy in a fine quality, highly attractive leather binding. Loosely inserted is a 4pp hand written letter from the author (" Your affectionate Dinah") to "My Dear Alice" ( her God Daughter, the subject of the poem "My Godchild Alice"), closely written in black ink on four sides of folded leaf, each side measuring 4.5 x 3.5 inches. The letter is undated but circa 1859 and discusses, among other things, the publisher Alexander Macmillan's approval of Clarence Dobell's illustrations for her… Read More

Italia: n.p., 1835. Very Good. 19 cm; 20 pages (three blank), including 7 full-page illustrations with captions. Text and illustrations lithographed throughout. Bound in (later?) plain wraps. Not in Melzi. No copies located. Apparently unrecorded booklet with text and illustrations produced completely in lithograph. The text reproduces an italic calligraphy that must have been lettered in reverse on stone, or written out on transfer paper before being applied to the lithographic stone. The narrative concerns a lady who is handily juggling simultaneous affairs with a young man and with the young man's father.

London: Henry Colburn, 1829. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. First edition, octavo, three volumes; 315, 319, 356pp. In contemporary half leather over marbled boards (a little worn), four raised spine bands, gilt lettered red morocco title labels to second compartments, remaining compartments richly gilt. Spotting and staining to early and closing leaves of each volume, author's name inscribed to title page, first quire of vol.1 misbound, otherwise a very good clean copy. Attractive copy of St.Leger's increasingly uncommon final novel, the last before his untimely death at the age of thirty following an epileptic seizure.

London: Henry Colburn, 1826. 1st Edition . Half leather. Very Good. First edition, octavo, three volumes; 310, 350, 326pp. In contemporary red straight-grain half morocco over marbled boards (very lightly worn, spines faded), four raised spine bands between double gilt fillets, gilt titles and volume numbers to second and fourth compartments respectively. Early heraldic ownership label to front pastedowns and ink ownership name to title-pages, without half-titles, unobtrusive very light foxing to opening and closing leaves of each volume. A very attractive copy of this historical novel by Shelley's friend and financial advisor, Horace Smith, poet, novelist and stockbroker. Sadleir 328-9.

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1886 First edition, first issue. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1886. With 26 illustrations (12 of these are full-page) by Reginald Birch and 14 pages advertisements for 'Scribner's Books for the Young'.

First Edition issue points are existing: with DeVinne Press imprint on page 210, signature mark "12" on page 177 and "14" on page 209.

Book is in a good to very good condition regarding its age with no dustjacket as published. The boards and the spine are rubbed, bumped and show signs of use and shelf wear (see photos). Dedication to former owner on front free endpaper. Book has a crack to the rear inside hinge but the connections between text block and boards are still intact. Slightly spotting and miniscule closed tears to some of the pages. Dusting to the edges of the text block.

In 1886, Frances Hodgson Burnett published Little Lord Fauntleroy, her first children's book, which was enthusiastically received by… Read More