Dombey and Son. by DICKENS, Charles - 1848: With illustrations by H. K. Browne.

London: Bradbury and Evans,, 1848. Original cloth First edition in book form, following publication in serial form from September 1846 to March 1848, of the novel "now recognized as one of the greatest of all his works... It is also the first one to have an explicitly contemporary setting" (ODNB). Demy octavo. Original green cloth (Smith's primary binding), spine lettered in gilt, spine and covers with elaborate design in blind, cream endpapers. With 40 plates by Phiz; plate 35 being the first published example of a "dark plate". Bookplate of the Warrington wire-manufacturer Thomas Glazebrook Rylands (1818-1900) to front pastedown, with his crest in gilt to spine. Spine lightly faded and cockled with short split at head, hinges just starting, peripheral staining to several plates, some foxing and browning to others. A very good copy. Smith I, 8.