Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859, first book edition

DICKENS, CHARLES

A Tale of Two Cities. London: Chapman and Hall, 1859

8vo (223 x 141mm.), FIRST BOOK EDITION, 16 etched illustrations by Hablot K. Browne ("Phiz") including frontispiece and additional title, earlier textual state with p.213 mispaginated p.113, publisher's 32 page catalogue dated November 1859 at the end, original deep red morocco cloth, covers decorated in blind with outer rectangular panels containing an 88 figure design, spine gilt, preserved in red cloth folder and quarter red morocco slipcase, a touch of spotting to rear endpapers, repaired tear to final leaf of advertisements at the end, minor spotting and rubbing to covers OTHERWISE A FINE COPY

First book edition of one of Dickens' most popular novels (particularly in North America), his elaborate adventure story set during the second half of the eighteenth century and inspired by Thomas Carlyle's study of the French Revolution.

REFERENCE:

Smith I: 13; Eckel pp.86-90; Sadleir 701; Wolff 1811

PROVENANCE:

"Mary Hooper", nineteenth-century ownership signature in ink on front endpaper; later ownership signature in pencil beneath ("Mrs Thompson...Muswell Hill London")