Dickens, Dombey and Son, 1846-1848, first edition in original 19/20 parts, with autograph letter signed by Browne

DICKENS, CHARLES

Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son. London: Bradbury and Evans, October 1846 – April 1848

8vo (223 x 144mm.), FIRST EDITION IN THE ORIGINAL 19/20 PARTS, early issue of part 11 ("Capatin" for "Captain" on p. 324, final line), both early and late issue points in part 14 ("431" present on p. 431 but "if" omitted on p. 426, line 9), earlier state of errata page (two line rather than eight line), 40 engraved or lithographic plates by 'Phiz' (Hablot K. Browne), all advertisements and slips called for by Hatton and Cleaver present, early issue of Dombey and Son Advertiser No 13 ("October, 1847" unbroken on p. 1, first line), original printed blue-green pictorial wrappers, collector’s red cloth folding box, ownership signatures in ink to upper covers of parts 1 and 14, ownership initials in ink to upper cover of part 3, occasional discreet repairs to spines

A REMARKABLY FRESH AND CLEAN SET OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS. The set is accompanied by Hablot K. Browne’s The Four Portraits… and Full-Length Portraits (both Chapman and Hall, 1848) together with an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("HKBrowne") to "Hy Edwards, Esqre" noting that "a set of eight etchings of full length figures representing some of the remaining principal character in 'Dombey' will be published in a day or two…", 1 page, 4to, 3 Furnivals Inn, Holborn, 5 March 1848

Hatton and Cleaver note that copies of Dombey and Son include both etchings and lithographs ("…it is not suggested that copies containing lithgraphs are of later printing or later issue than those with etchings – they were all in use at the same time…") One plate in part 18 is of particular note as the first published example of a 'dark plate'.

REFERENCE:

Hatton and Cleaver pp. 227-250; Eckel, pp. 74-76