Beschreibung:

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club: Containing a Faithful Record of the Perambulations, Perils, Adventures and Sporting Transactions of the Corresponding Members. Edited by "Boz." Author: Dickens, Charles Place: Philadelphia Publisher: Carey, Lea & Blanchard Date: 1836-37 Description: 5 volumes. (12mo) 18.5x11 cm (7¼x4½") original cloth-backed boards with paper spine labels, presented in red cloth-covered clamshell box with printed paper spine label. First American Edition, mixed issue set. Volume I with first issue points as follow: the first state with no mention of "Part First" on the title page nor of "Part 1" on spine; printed by Dickinson & Ward as noted on title page verso; 2 pages of preliminary ads (although the verso bears the page number 6); 5 ad pp. at rear; first paragraph of the preliminary ad cites only "Watkins Tuttle" whereas the later copy noted by Wilkins cites four titles including Oliver Twist. The first state of Vol. I is particularly rare, having been issued in 1,500 copies. Volume 2 is second issue. As these volumes were set up and printed as the parts were received from London (4 parts per volume) a very sound case has been made, e.g. by Richard Loomis in his catalogue of the McGuire collection, that "it is quite certain that four of the five Philadelphia volumes preceded the issuance of the first British edition in book form." (W. Reese). Podeschi (Yale) A19; Wilkins pp. 7-9. Lot Amendments Condition: Rubbing and light wear, spines sunned with chipped and/or abraded spine labels; a few slightly leaning spines, light foxing with some dampstaining, one or two sprung leaves; very good. Item number: 329231