[Dickens], Public Life of Mr. Tulrumble, once Mayor of Mudfog. By Boz, 1837

[DICKENS, CHARLES]

Public Life of Mr. Tulrumble, once Mayor of Mudfog. By Boz. With other tales and sketches, from Bentley's Miscellany, and The Library of Fiction. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea and Blanchard, 1837

12mo (182 x 108mm.), original red cloth backed grayish reddish brown boards with printed lettering piece on spine, binder's blank at end, some light browning, some damp-staining, signature K2 becoming loose, binding slightly worn, rubbed at extremities, tear to front free endpaper

ONE OF THE EARLIEST PRINTINGS OF DICKENS IN BOOK FORM IN THE UNITED STATES.

Podeschi notes, of the Gimbel copy, "2000 copies were printed in April 1837". The volume contains eleven pieces of which 'Public Life of Mr. Tulrumble' is the only contribution by Dickens. Given the reception of The Pickwick Papers, the publishers featured the contribution by Boz on the title-page. Carey, Lea and Blanchard would publish the first two chapters of Oliver Twist in the same format on 15 April 1837.

REFERENCE:

Smith, American Editions pp. 9-10; Eckel p. 175; Gimbel B44

PROVENANCE:

Swann, 17 May 2007, lot 334; James Cummins Bookseller