Bleak House

London: Bradbury & Evans, 1853 . First edition. Leather. Very Good. 9" by 6.5". Phiz [Hablot Knight Browne]. A smart first edition, first issue, of one of Charles Dickens's most celebrated novels, 'Bleak House'. The first edition of this work, first issue. Bound from the parts, with small stamp holes to the gutter. The first issue of this work, with the ten dark plates, and the following issue points as identified by Eckel: 'elgble' to page 19 line 6, "chair" to page 209 line 23, 'counsinship' to page 275 line 22, and "picter" to page 529 line 32.With a frontispiece, engraved title page, and thirty eight further plates, including the ten dark plates. Collated, complete.Illustrated by Hablot Knight Browne, known by his pen name "Phiz", an English illustrator who contributed his work to ten of Charles Dickens' books, including 'David Copperfield', and 'Dombey and Son'.Narrated by Esther Summerson, Dickens's novel concerns the long running legal case, Jarndyce and Jarndyce, in the Court of Chancery. The case surrounds a number of several conflicting wills written by the same person. Inspired by a true story, the novel actually helped support a judicial reform, in the form of the 1870s Judicature Acts.Retaining the original half title.A smart copy of the first edition of this work. In a half calf binding, with marbled paper covered boards. Rubbing to board perimeters and back strip head, resulting in losses to the leather. Otherwise, externally generally smart. Head of front hinge starting, with board holding firm. Internally, firmly bound. Spotting to plate perimeters, with further instances of spotting throughout, and with the odd light pencil notation. Very Good