Dickens, Child's History of England, 1852-1854 [1851-1853], first book edition

DICKENS, CHARLES

A Child's History of England. London: Bradbury and Evans, 1852-1854 [1851-1853]

8vo (152 x 17mm.), 3 volumes, FIRST BOOK EDITION, first issue, half-titles, wood-engraved frontispieces by Francis W. Topham, leaf of advertisements at end each volume all in first issue state, marbled endpapers and edges, origiginal reddish-brown bold-ribbed cloth, covers decorated in blind with outer entwined leaf-flower border enclosing gilt illustration of young Alfred reading to his mother, spines decorated and lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers and edges, some very minor spotting, upper hinge of volume 1 very slightly starting

A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST BOOK EDITION OF DICKENS' INTENSELY ANTI-ARISTOCRATIC AND ANTI-MONARCHICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND FOR CHILDREN, which was originally serialised (anonymously) in Household Words between 25th January 1851 and 10th December 1853. Each of the three volumes in the book editon was published separately, with the overall number of chapters reducing down from 45 to 37. Each was published around Christmas (in 1851, 1852 and 1853) but postdated the following year.

REFERENCE:

Smith II:10; Eckel p. 128