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Dickens, Charles.
Oliver Twist; Or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. By ‘Boz’.
Publisher: Richard Bentley, London;
Date of Publication: 1838
Stock Code: 12439
First Edition in book form, first issue: with the ‘Fireside’ plate to vol III and ‘Boz’ as the author to tiltes. Large 12 mo., pp. [6], 331, [1], [4] catalogue; [6], 307, [1]; [6], 315, [1]. Bound with the half-titles to vols I and II and without to vol III (as called for) and with the advertisement leaf before title to vol III. With 24 steel-engraved plates by George Cruikshank, frontispiece of vol III misbound at p.260. Contemporary black half calf with 4 raised bands, gilt titles to pale orange labels to spine, with fish-scale decoration in blind to compartments; marbled paper-covered boards and matching edges and endpapers. Spine tips rubbed with small loss to Vol. I at tail; corners a little bruised and boards lightly surface scuffed with wear to edge. Minor scattered foxing, heavier to some plates as usual; peripheral browning to some leaves and plates. An attractive copy in a contemporary binding. Dickens’ second novel, originally published as by “Boz” in serial form 1837-39; this 3 volume First Edition was published 6 months before the initial serialisation was complete. The first issue points of the book are succinctly summarised by Smith “Dickens not only objected to the Fireside plate, but also disliked having “Boz” on the title-page. He voiced these objections prior to publication and the plate and title-page were changed between November 9 and 16’. The classic tale of the runaway orphan raised in a workhouse who joins Fagin’s gang of pickpockets in London was informed by the Author’s own experiences of workhouse life as a child, and highlights the problems of child labour, domestic violence and the poverty of street children. £3500.00